Have you ever looked down at your arm, noticed a bruise, and wondered, “Where did that come from?” Sometimes a bruise is small; sometimes it is large and dark; sometimes it is deep and painful; and sometimes it is barely noticeable.
But no matter what it looks like on the outside, a bruise tells a story that something happened without saying a word. Maybe you bumped into something, or fell, or someone hurt you. Whatever the cause, your body is responding to an injury beneath the surface.
Our hearts can be bruised in much the same way. Some heart bruises are small. Maybe it’s a careless word someone spoke or a disappointment we didn’t expect.
Others are much deeper. Such as rejection, abandonment, abuse, divorce, grief, betrayal, or words spoken by someone we never dreamed would hurt us.
Just like a physical bruise, sometimes the deepest wounds are the ones nobody can see. I can remember years ago when my husband was suffering from severe depression. I got up every day, put on my makeup, fixed my hair, smiled, and went about my day. People would ask how I was doing, and I always answered, “I’m fine.” Truth is, they really did not want me to tell them I felt like I was dying inside. At least that is what I thought.
Underneath that smile, my heart was bruised and tender. People did not see it, but one thing I realize is that God did. Psalm 34:18 says:
“The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart.”
God is always there in our broken, bruised places. He doesn’t ask us to hide them from Him. He wants us to bring those places to him.
A bad bruise can take time to heal. The color may change. The tenderness may remain for a while. Sometimes you think it’s getting better, only to bump it again and realize it’s still sensitive. Heart healing can be the same way. You may forgive someone and still have feelings about what happened. You may trust God and still have days when the memories hurt. You may know that God has forgiven you and still struggle to forgive yourself.
This does not mean you are failing. It means you are healing. Don’t struggle with the process. Sometimes we become experts at hiding our pain. We cover it with a smile, or with busyness. We cover it by saying, “I’m okay, everything is fine.”
We must remember God does not want us to pretend with him. He already knows the pain you are suffering.
In Psalm 147:3, the word says,
“He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.”
This is beautiful. God doesn’t just notice the bruise; He binds it up.
If your heart is bruised today, don’t hide it. Give it to Jesus. Tell Him where it hurts. Tell Him what you don’t understand. Tell Him what you are afraid of. Tell Him what you wish had never happened. Then let Him begin His work in your heart. You don’t have to heal yourself. The same God who created your body with the ability to heal is the God who can heal and restore your bruised heart.
Maybe your bruise is fresh. Maybe you have carried it for years. Remember, God knows. He is near the brokenhearted, and He wants to start the healing process for you today. No more waiting for the right time; know this is God’s timing. He loves you. He wants you whole. He wants you free from all pain and suffering. Remember, He heals the broken heart and binds up our wounds. Trust Him today to heal the bruise that is holding you back from true freedom.
Patti League
Lean into Jesus Ministries
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