”A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering (dimly burning) wick He will not quench, till He brings justice and a just cause to victory.“
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭12‬:‭20‬ ‭AMPC‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/8/mat.12.20.AMPC

This passage echos in my heart this week.

It’s so powerful to see in scripture, this gentle nature of Jesus, coupled with His clear and perfect bold fearlessness, as the Lion of Judah.

Enduring Word commentary explained the bruised reed and the smoking flax like this… “A reed is a fairly fragile plant, yet if a reed is bruised the Servant will handle it so gently that He will not break it. And if flax, used as a wick for an oil lamp, does not flame but only smokes, He will not quench it into extinguishing. Instead, the Servant will gently nourish the smoking flax, fanning it into flame again.”

The heart of God, as described by Isaiah and demonstrated by Jesus here, I can’t help but see pure gentleness.

Have you ever had a bad, bad physical bruise? One that was so bad that it was tender to touch and you must guard it… so bruised that area wasn’t able to fully function at its optimum until healing happened?

How about a bruise of the soul? One of abandonment, one of betrayal, even one where you were intentionally victimized, on purpose, for no reason at all? You may not have a physical mark for others to see what is injured, but it instead manifests in anger, uncontrollable rage, self-hatred, isolation, identity confusion, depression, anxiety, or an inability to love.

Matthew tells us in the passage above from Isaiah, “a bruised reed He will NOT break.”

The hand of Jesus, the help of Jesus is that of gentleness. He can, He wants to, and He will straighten it out. He will help you up, and out, with gentleness. With love. With perfect precision and care. He knows what it feels like to be bruised, remember?

”But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.“
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭53‬:‭5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/114/isa.53.5.NKJV

He went to the cross and overcame bruised for you. All you have to do is receive what He finished as the free gift of ‘all fixed,’ that it truly is…

Have you ever felt like a smoking flax?

The passage above echos… it “does not flame but only smokes.”

This reminds me of a zapped mama. I know I had a flame at one point. I’ve been soaked in the oil of the presence of Jesus in my quiet time and study, resting in the Secret Place and feasting on the Word until I’m satisfied, drinking the Living Water until my thirst is settled…on the daily.

Until the stomach bug hits the house and we all 5 have it at once.

Or until I’m up all night for a week straight with a feverish toddler.

Until I can’t pick up the Bible because the tiny disciples in my home need a good dose of Jesus themselves from a hard day with a friend and as mama and daddy, that’s our part…

That soaking will last a day or three, but just like the smoking flax, the oil can run out and the flame dwindles. Three, four day old bread just isn’t enough…

Yet, just look.

All the while, Jesus is there.

‘And if flax, does not flame but only smokes, He will not quench it into extinguishing. Instead, the Servant will gently nourish the smoking flax, fanning it into flame again.’

So friend, mama, sister… if your finding yourself feeling ‘bruised’ or if you’re only ‘smoking’ right now, Jesus is here for you.

He’s here to help, not with harsh correction or shame or guilt, but with gentleness, love and complete and forever restoration, not just a bandaid.

He’s not mean or mad or disappointed or surprised. He’s not saying, ‘well, you shoulda saw that coming… that’s what you get.’

He cares.

He is our High Priest who knows how to sympathize with our weaknesses. (Hebrews 4:15)

He is the Word, made flesh. Our instruction manual, our demonstration of the Spirit Filled life walked out for life on this planet…

And He’s also the One who sent the Holy Spirit to fill us, equip us, encourage us, empower us, lead us, guide us, teach us who Jesus really is, and who we really are.

Because whether you are bruised or smoking right now, get ready for straightening, healing, and fanning, in Jesus’ name.

Because my Bible tells me, ”A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering (dimly burning) wick He will not quench, till He brings justice and a just cause to victory.“
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭12‬:‭20‬ ‭AMPC‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/8/mat.12.20.AMPC

Thank you Jesus, for the cross. And thank you God, for sending Jesus.