Cast Away
“His heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned”
Troubled and abandoned. That’s what Jesus saw when He looked out at the crowds - the troubled and the abandoned - the anxious, the broken, the lonely, the conflicted, the forgotten, the distressed.
When Jesus looked into the crowd, He wasn’t simply moved with pity because of their number. He saw every infirmity - physical, emotional, or spiritual. Jesus looked out at His people and saw the needs of every mind, body, and soul.
Jesus didn’t just cure the blind and the lame or cast out demons,
He peered into the hearts of His people.
Every single one. In every single person, He noticed each tiny worry that troubled them and every great fear that tormented them.
He notices you in the same way.
HE SEES YOU.
Even when you don’t want to be seen, when you don’t want to be found, He is there. He stands before you asking you to look up at Him. Maybe He’s even lifting your chin? His invitation is gentleness, is kindness. Will you allow your heart to thaw enough to receive Him? Will you unravel, unwind, and rest long enough to let Him in? It can be a hard thing to do. When we are hurting or troubled or abandoned or under attack, our first response is protection. Our instinct is to harden ourselves, to resist emotion, to push away from tenderness. To stay safe. But,
Pushing Jesus away is the opposite of safe.
If you stepped on glass, would you hide your foot away? Or would you find a nurse or a doctor to help you? Would you let the doctor pull out the shards, clean your wound, and wrap it so it could heal? So it could be made new?
Jesus, the doctor of our hearts, waits for you.
He sees the shattered, delicate parts of your heart, and He stands ready to remove the broken pieces with great care. He is ready to bind up the bleeding parts of your heart. He is ready to disinfect the places where lies have held you captive. He is ready to set, like bones, the pillars of faith, hope, and love within you. Will you let Him?
Will you let the divine physician touch the broken places of your heart?
For His law is love, and His Gospel is peace. He came for the troubled and the abandoned, to take care of them. And He came for you. He came for this exact moment. He came for every moment when you are troubled and abandoned. He came to take care of you.
Sisters, cast your cares upon Him. Jesus wants us to, He asks you to. We’re reminded in the New Testament,
“Cast all your cares on Him, because He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7
He cares for you. He didn’t come out of obligation; He came out of love. He died to love you. So let Him. Let Him love you.
Father,
Oh, Father. What would we ever do without You? Please unwrap our hearts gently. Help us to thaw in Your presence.
Remove from us our hearts of stone and give us hearts of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26).
Father, we need Your help. We are not strong enough to do it alone. Show us how to love Your people the way that You love us. For You are a good, good Father who delights in mercy and offers us never-ending love.
Thank You for being so patient with our stubborn hearts. Thank You for knowing us better than we know ourselves. Thank You for loving us beyond what we could ever deserve. Jesus, we love You. Help us to remember.
