[355]. A Message From A Poem – You Heal, O Lord, What Others Have Hurt

[355]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – YOU HEAL, O LORD, WHAT OTHERS HAVE HURT

As creatures of emotions we feel it when what is bad and not welcome comes our way. This may be sorrow and injury, persecution, injustice, and the hurt done by others. I have known the last one of that short list along with humiliation, and you feel so isolated sometimes.

It is fantastic when Christians draw alongside a hurting brother or sister to support the hurting one. In speaking about the Rapture, Paul ended the account this way, {{1 Thessalonians 4:18 “Therefore comfort one another with these words.”}}. But the comfort of Christians extends wider than that glorious coming event. It should touch the very aspects of living in a practical sense.

If anyone knew hurt in all its faces it was Paul. What he suffered was unbelievable but the Holy Spirit caused him to write these words – {{2 Corinthians 1:3-5 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort WHO COMFORTS US IN ALL OUR AFFLICTION so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. Just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also OUR COMFORT IS ABUNDANT THROUGH CHRIST.”}}

The title is “You heal what others have hurt,” and it is the Lord who takes us up when others have hurt us, just like the Good Samaritan took up the traveller who had been hurt by thieves. What a wonderful Saviour we have, and if that is not enough, the Holy Spirit also comes to our aid as the Counsellor, the Paraclete, the Advocate for us in our pain. He is our true Helper.

I know from experience that deep hurt from the enemies of the cross and from the self-righteous in the world cuts deep and leaves scars. Those who think Christians should be able to get over their hurt easily are speaking only from the academic point of view, and have never been there themselves. Hurt leaves scars and these are not forgotten. Neither are the consequences forgotten.

BUT THERE IS A BUT! Let us consider what Paul wrote - {{2 Corinthians 4:8-10 “we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.”}}

“I will never leave you, nor forsake you,” the Lord said, and it is true. There is no greater Comforter and Friend.

The Lord is the great Healer in all manner of hurts. Do not turn to Him as a last resort. Seek Him early.

==========================================================

YOU HEAL, O LORD, WHAT OTHERS HAVE HURT

Lord, what can heal a broken heart,

When all around me falls apart;

And what can fill the void I feel,

Or cause my hurting life to heal?

=================

When used by one so heartlessly,

Manipulated selfishly,

So right is understood as wrong –

Now that’s a sad path to be on.

=================

When I’ve been stung as by a bee;

Oh, that hurts and remains with me.

One can hurt another person,

Caring not their problems worsen.

=================

Like the storm that batters fiercely,

How I feel it so severely.

The human hear is so corrupt,

That from it, scheming will erupt.

=================

Those who damage are manifold;

Like wild asses, they’re uncontrolled -

Callous people with hearts of stone;

From them, no empathy is shown.

=================

O soul, don’t grovel in sorrow,

Neither this day, nor the morrow.

Hurting destroys your perspective;

Makes your reasoning defective.

=================

Consider Him who such grief bore,

Offences many at His door.

On the cross he carried our pain;

Knew all such hurt when He was slain.

=================

Man of sorrows, our Great High Priest -

His love for us has never ceased;

Was wounded on the cross for all -

Our balm in sorrow, when we call.

=================

Under our sins, Christ was brought low;

Suffered more than we’ll ever know

But for certain we know this fact,

That His care for us, is exact.

=================

Lord Jesus, take my pain and woe.

Succour me while I’m here below.

Others can hurt me so badly,

But You step in for me gladly.

=================

The first two stanzas were done at some time in the past. The remainder was completed 31 December 2021. I am not aware now of the circumstance that initiated the poem all those years ago.

R E Ferguson 31 December 2021 Metre = 8-8-8-8 A-A-B-B