The Guarded Heart vs Guarding Our HeartsSample

THE BRUISED PARTS OF OUR HEART

Bruises happen as we journey through life's bumps, knocks, jabs, and troubles. John 16:33 tells us there will be troubles. It's not a matter of if but when. The problem with bruises is that they cause tenderness, but they are not painful enough to inhibit us nor big enough to make an issue about it. However, bruises can cause us to become jaded over time, putting our hearts on edge, on guard, and, over time, cynical.

The two biggest dangers of bruising are when we or others minimize it. You are told to stop making a big thing out of nothing. That one is exaggerating or being dramatic. Gaslighting is a psychological manipulation that causes you to doubt your perceptions and understanding of an experience. This leaves a person feeling like they are losing their minds. When we try to put boundaries around bruising behaviour, we doubt ourselves because it's not a big thing, but it still hurts. The second mistake we make is we start to personalize it; we absorb the mild dysfunction that causes the bruising into our value and self-worth. There must be something wrong with me. These tender bruises are judged as weak, like the fragileness of a bruised reed—which is seen as good for nothing but to be eventually cut down and discarded.

So, how do we guard our hearts from becoming jaded due to bruises?

The answer is simply to allow ourselves to receive Christ's gentleness in those tender spaces in ourselves and others. Isaiah prophesized in Matthew 12:20 that Jesus would not break a bruised reed. Jesus doesn't see a bruised reed the way the world does. He has incredible compassion for the weak, downtrodden, bruised, and despairing. Jesus shows tenderness to those in the most delicate and fragile places. Jesus declares that the meek will inherit the earth. The Greek meaning of meekness is "power under control."

Meekness is not the absence of strength but the application of strength to a tender situation. I believe Jesus wants you to bring those bruises before him today so that he can heal you.

Reflective Questions:

• In what area of your life have you struggled with bruises?
• How has it impacted your heart?
• How have those who caused the bruising responded?
• What emotions are you most struggling with?

Prayer:

Jesus, thank you for your heart and compassion for my bruised heart. I pray for your healing as I process the emotions and hurts that have happened over the years. I pray your meekness will guard my heart from jadedness. Thank you that I don't have to do this healing journey alone.