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I am not sure how you feel about your old Bibles, but mine, well let’s just say I derive comfort from them similar to when I slip my feet into an old pair of slippers. I get a moment of “Ahhhhh.”

I spent some time with my old Bible today. Reading randomly (or perhaps it wasn’t random after all) the underlined verses, my notes and quotes tucked away in the margins and on pieces of paper. There is a familiarity and comfort which envelops me like a warm blanket as I look at dates written in my own handwriting.

And I remember ….

I remember the events which were happening, the prayers and the answers to prayer. I recall the way in which God came through for me.

And in the remembering, He grows bigger, more powerful than He was in the past.

I read this quote written in pencil, in my writing, in the margin:

“The other gods were strong, but Thou became weak.
They rose but Thou didst stagger, to a throne.
But to our wounds, only God’s wounds can speak.
And not a god has wounds but Thou alone.”

(Edward Shillito)

“Wounds”, as defined by dictionary.com –> an injury, cut, stab, trauma, insult, or anguish.

“But he was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him.” (Isaiah 53:5, NKJV)

We each have our own wounds and they hurt like nobody’s business for a long time. We can stuff them down, ignore them, deny them, or pretend they do not exist but in a flash, they can reappear in our lives. They are our wounds and tend to go with us wherever we go. Unless they have been properly tended.

Scripture talks about wounds because Jesus Himself was wounded. He knew the pain of wounds. And He knows the pain of our wounds as well.

They are not invisible to His eyes. He sees them clearly as they are not hidden from Him, no matter how well I have covered them.

But here’s the thing I realized today as my old and new Bibles lay open side by side to the same passage ….

“But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.” (Isaiah 53:5, NLT)

His wounds serve a greater and deeper purpose – our healing and wholeness. Only the wounds of our God have continued to speak down through the ages, to all people, to bring healing.

May we each let Him dress our wounds, tending to them carefully and with compassion. He alone is the balm our souls need.

It was His own wounding which brings my healing and wholeness.

 

This post was shared with … Thought Provoking Thurs., Tell His Story, Quitting Thurs., Thurs. Favorite Things, Thrive at Home, Hearts for Home.