The God who heals

Where was it in the Bible that God referred to Himself as "I am the God who heals you?"

It had to do with bitter water. Have you ever had to deal with bitterness? It is a sickness that creates a desert in the soul. Bitter water brings with it a curse. It is corrosive and eats away at mental and emotional well being. And yet, it is impossible in this broken world not to experience the grief that comes when true thirst is met with bitter water.

I woke up at 3:15 am praying for a woman I know whose son was shot and killed. There was a trial but the trial only added more sorrow and bitterness to this grieving mother's heart. I woke up praying for her, and as I prayed I remembered how Moses cried out to God about the bitter waters of Marah. God responded to Moses' cries by showing him a tree. When Moses threw the tree into the water, the water became drinkable. As I prayed for my friend in the night I thought, only the cross can cure the bitterness of her soul.

As I continued to pray for my friend I prayed that she would experience the God who heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. In the wilderness a tree was used to heal the bitter water. On the tree at Calvary Jesus' heart was pierced and living water flowed.

For all those whose soul is filled with bitterness, Jesus cried out, "If anyone is thirsty, he should come to Me and drink! The one who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, will have streams of living water flow from deep within him" (John 7:37). On the cross Jesus drank from the bitter cup of suffering so that those who believed in Him could know the God who heals.

Sanctuary

I needed asylum.

The storm clouds blackened the sky; the only lights to be seen were the flaming arrows of lighting. The booming thunder left a deafening ringing in my ears. I was driven by the storm to seek sanctuary.

I found a hiding place, a place of peace, a place of deep rest. This is a stillness that you can only know in the midst of a storm. Here, I heard the sound of rushing waters like a mighty peal of thunder and yet the sound soothed my soul. I was calmed as if listening to a harpist strumming his harp.

I found myself in the presence of one who wrapped Himself with light as with as garment. In this holy place no darkness could dwell. When His light shone in the storm I saw that I was surrounded by a rainbow.

In the beauty of the rainbow I heard the whisper of a promise of peace. I found myself enveloped in the love of God. It was then I realized the storm that drove me to seek asylum had in truth been an invitation to know the stillness that can only come by knowing God.