Jonathan Munson, Executive Director
“A bruised reed He will not break, a smoldering wick He will not snuff out.” Isaiah 42:3
Not long ago, the Lord interrupted my day.
I had a ‘chance’ encounter with a lady who had endured one of the darkest chapters of her life.
She had moved to Atlanta to support her son’s dream of a career in music. Four days after they arrived, he took his own life. Then, out of nowhere, her husband of thirty-five years left her for another woman. Consumed by insufferable grief, she was suddenly alone in a new city. No job. No family there. No understanding or vision of the future.
Just broken and barely hanging on.
Ever been there?
As I listened to her share her story, I realized the Lord had intentionally placed me in her path to encourage her dejected spirit. All I had to do was make myself available and follow His direction.
However, I’m not always that perceptive — or obedient.
How many times have I walked past someone who is struggling, so I could accomplish the items on my “To Do” list? Honestly…I’m afraid I often have more in common with the priest and the Levite who bypassed the man on the Jericho Road than I do with the Samaritan who stopped to lend a helping hand (Luke 10:25-37).
The truth is, we live in a world of “bruised reeds” and “smoldering wicks.”
Isaiah uses these images to illustrate how Jesus, the “Servant of the Lord” (Isaiah 42:1), treats those who are broken and barely hanging on.
A “reed” is a tall, slender plant that grows in or around water, and was often used in biblical times to make pens or measuring tools. But this reed is “bruised”- literally, “crushed.” Meanwhile, a “smoldering wick,” once burning bright as the sun, now flickers with only a faint glow.
Both metaphors describe people we encounter every day.
Notice how Jesus responds.
Rather than overlooking the weak and the hurting, Jesus pursues them. He draws near. Jesus ministers with such tenderness, with such delicate precision that He doesn’t “break” the reed or “snuff out” the wick.
His gentleness is remarkable.
Don’t we see this in the Gospels? Consider how Jesus treats the woman with the issue of blood (Luke 8:43-48), or the paralytic by the pool (John 5:1-16), or the countless other folks He ministered to. Think of the way Jesus treated you.
If this is how Jesus ministers to the broken, then shouldn’t His followers do the same?
Renowned British pastor and author Alan Redpath puts it like this, “In the eyes of the Lord, the test of the real servant is, does he bend with the humility of Jesus Christ over a bruised reed and smoldering wick?”
According to Redpath, the true gauge of our servanthood isn’t our Bible knowledge or church attendance. It’s how much we care for those who are broken and barely hanging on.
So, if you call yourself a servant of Jesus, open your eyes to the hurting around you. Pay attention. Follow the promptings of the Spirit.
Are there any “bruised reeds” or “smoldering wicks” in your life?
Granted, not everyone will be in as desperate a situation as the lady I mentioned above. (She is doing better, by the way.) It’s often the ordinary, daily stresses of life that burden people the most. Many times, people appear fine on the outside, but are actually struggling on the inside.
If the Lord’s bringing someone to your mind, don’t delay. Move with gentleness and offer an encouraging word or a listening ear.
No quick fixes.
No empty platitudes.
Your presence is enough.
And one more thing…to love like Jesus means your schedule will get interrupted. But when it does, you’ll be incredibly blessed if you take the time to help mend a “bruised reed” and reignite a “smoldering wick.” –
DIG DEEPER
Read “Helping Others Through Their Pain” by Bryant Wright
