A man’s spirit will endure sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear? Proverbs 18:14
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18
But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities, the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5
Dear Lord Jesus, I begin this day both filled with profound hope and with great sadness. The sadness is born from witnessing a parent commit spirit-homicide on a child who couldn’t have been older than two or three. Walking though the Target parking lot, I watched as an exasperated mom targeted her son’s spirit for crushing. I literally saw that little fellow shrivel under the weight of her impatience, harshness and anger. The image lingers… maybe because I know what a crushed spirit feels like…
In all fairness, I have no clue what was going on in that mom’s heart. I have no idea what preceded her cruel eruption, but nothing could justify or excuse her behavior, nothing. And in all honesty, I wanted to treat her just as harshly as she was treating her son. For a moment, I was more angry at her than concerned for her son. I need your mercy as much as she does…
That’s precisely where you come in Jesus-where you come real close, for you are near to the brokenhearted and you save those who are crushed in spirit. This is why, along with great sadness, I feel profound hope, for you took the ultimate crushing of the cross that we might know your tear-wiping hand and a peace you alone can bring. Jesus, continue to heal those places, those wounds in my heart where I lost face and heart… where I simply went limp with shame.
And Jesus, help me and my friends in this community of gospel-praying, help us to know, grieve and repent of how capable and culpable we are for crushing the spirit of others-our children… our spouses… our friends… strangers… whoever. Melt the madness of our meanness with the grandeur of your grace. So very Amen, I pray… we pray in your near and healing name.