As much as I’d like to think of myself as a willow, able to bend with the wind, I’ve been more like a reed, easily bruised and broken. There have been many times, more than I’d like to admit, when my trust and faith in God have been tested. Far too many times, I’ve been rash in my decisions and have acted rashly, without waiting for God to resolve the situation.

But each time, the Messiah has brought me through. Listen to this promise from God, made during the time of the prophet Isaiah, of Christ’s mission and purpose.

A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not quench; He will bring forth justice for truth.

BOOK OF ISAIAH 42:3 NKJV

Bruised Reed, Fragile Faith

A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Ever heard that saying? It means that no matter how strong some links in a chain are, the weakest chain determine its overall strength. A chain is supposed to link one thing to another, but if a link is weak, it can easily break when pressure is applied.

It’s the same with our faith, how we live in our spiritual life, in our deepest heart and soul. If there’s a part of us that is weak, and we haven’t brought it up to God’s attention, it will remain weak because it’s still unresolved, and it’s still a door for the devil to come in, influence us and manipulate us through our feelings and reactions to, and because of, that unresolved issue.

We’re all tainted by sin, bruised by affliction, and broken by life’s struggles. We’re human. And God knows that, knows our every weakness, sees our broken hearts, and tastes our tears.

The Saviour’s Strength

The Messiah, Jesus Christ, knows our humanness, our lack of faith, and our little strength, and He continues to sustain us. He is our intercessor, our High Priest who continues to pray for us to God the Father.

When we come to Him admitting our sins and our struggles, He doesn’t discard us like a broken, damaged reed, or extinguish the little faith we have; no, He cares for us, nourishing us until we’ve regained strength, and we’re back on our feet.

Jesus is Our Hope

All through my fifty years, through low self-esteem, illness, loss, pain and grief, I’ve learned to trust in Jesus. I’ve learned to tell Him all that’s bothering me, all my worries, complaints, and heartache. And He knows when to draw me in, and when to push me forward. Always gentle, always strong. He’s never given up on me, never abandoned me.

I know He will do the same for you.

Prayer

“Father God, Almighty God, full of wisdom and strength. You are Holy and worthy of praise! Thank You for never forsaking us, even as the world casts us aside. Thank you for strengthening us and growing our faith in You. In Jesus’ name, I pray this. Amen!”

Writing Prompts

Gather your materials: Your Bible, either a physical copy or a digital one; your journal, diary or notebook; favourite pens, highlighters, etc.

Read through the entire chapter of Isaiah 42, pray, and write down what the Holy Spirit shows you about what you’ve read.

---

Bless someone by sharing your thoughts in the comments section below

---

Photo: Aflo Images