Waves of Compassion

Waves of grief engulf me with no warning, crashing mercilessly over my soul. I didn’t know life could hurt this much.

All I want to do is make it better. All I really can do is be kind. I can be gentle. I can listen. I can take time to reach out my hand and touch an aching heart.

I often don’t know what to say because words don’t change the deep pangs of pain. But sometimes it’s most important not to say anything. I can simply be present in the pain.
An aching soul only wants to know somebody cares enough to reach out their hand and touch them with love.

Maybe that’s why the woman with the issue of blood reached out to touch the hem of Jesus’ garment.
Nobody was reaching out to her so, when she saw Someone who could fill that aching void, she had to touch Him.

She only touched the very edge of His garment, but that was close enough for His love to wash over her wounded soul.

Then there’s the woman who was living in adultery. She was so sinful and human. Jesus knew all of that. He saw her for who she really was.

She must have been holding her breath in those moments that He was staring at the ground quietly. She knew He saw her for who she really was. Would He love her?

And finally, after drawing in the dirt for a good long while, He looked up at her. I can feel her breath catching in her throat as He looked at her with more compassion than she had ever known. His look told her a lot and then He told her she was forgiven, in a tone so gentle and kind. He chose to love her in her brokenness.

His healing words washed over the woman as the grief of her own brokenness dissolved into the sand He had been writing in.

He informed her that she must go and sin no more. Jesus’ decision to extend kindness was a stepping stone in the woman’s story of redemption. Without His kindness at that moment, the woman would surely have tumbled headlong into the crashing ocean of guilt and grief.

But suddenly the brokenness didn’t matter as much because Jesus extended kindness to her.

I can be honest with Him; it’s safe in His Presence.

He sees me for who I really am and His compassion will wash over my soul and dissolve the pain and brokenness.

The waves of His compassion and grace are much greater than the waves of grief and pain.

Will I reach out and touch Him so He can heal me with His glorious love?