Tuesday, November 15 – Psalm 147:3

He heals the brokenhearted

And binds up their wounds.

You may have heard the phrase, “Time heals all wounds.” Yet, if you have been through a deep time of grief of any sort you know this is not always true. Time may make our memory of certain details foggy, but the pain can cut deep and flood back in an instant even years later. For many, the holiday season is another reminder that time does not heal all wounds when year after year the holidays are difficult to navigate, let alone enjoy.

Praise be to God that He knows our wounds, He knows their depth, and He knows their impact on our lives. A saying like “Time heals all wounds” acts as a small band-aid to a huge gash; time will never address the depth of some of our pain, and distance from tragedy will not necessarily help unless we know the true Healer. This passage is touching because there is no quick fix to deep sorrow. The Psalmist wrote that God binds up the wounds of the broken-hearted. He doesn’t just heal them; He facilitates the process of grief and the road to healing. It would be wonderful to say we are able to wake up one day and feel better from the grief we face but that may not always be the case. Still, even when we do not want to admit it, God knows us and sees how deeply things affect us. He knows where our wounds still lie, and He is ready to care for us with His tender love.

• When have you wanted a quick fix for the problems in your life?
• How does God’s promise of full and complete healing encourage you?
• Pray and thank God for how He sees you and knows to address your wounds.