James 1:19-20

Easy, right?!

Oh wait.

I think that people often refer back to James 1:19--we should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. Now, those aren't easy things, but it seems like the perfect formula, so we toss those words around either as a warning to ourselves or maybe even as a warning to someone else...probably when they are offending us, which is a whole separate issue.

But verse 20 is what really hits me. You see, when we talk more than we listen, when use our words to hurt people, or are invoked to anger by the words or actions of others, we are sinning.

God doesn't desire dissension. Conflict isn't honoring to Him. Arguing doesn't lead to righteousness.

Rather, we should seek to understand the story of those we are in conflict with, and this is done primarily through listening. And when we realize that two people can have different viewpoints that are both legitimate and based on their experiences, we'll be more apt to be compassionate.

And compassion is something that will honor God and affect our human relationships.

Brokenhearted

All of us have been brokenhearted at one time or another. Chances are it was because of a relationship; either a friend, a family member, or spouse or dating relationship. Maybe there was turmoil. Maybe the relationship ended in a way that hurt. Maybe someone passed away. Or maybe it wasn't a relationship--maybe there was bad news--a health issue, financial burden, or something in the news. Heartbreak is unfortunately an effect of being human. 

In steps God:

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

Psalm 147:3

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Psalm 34:18

I love these two verses. I love that God can heal our broken hearts. I love that he cares about us so much that he choses to be near to us when we are broken. I tend to have no desire to be around people who are miserable; I don't have the patience or the compassion to help see them through whatever is going on. Sometimes, I even drive myself crazy with my own misery. But God, he is so different. He is close to us in our time of sorrow. 

And then, as if coming near to us weren't enough, he saves us. He binds up our wounds. He heals us. He takes our broken hearts, our messy lives, and he restores us.

Your external wounds? God can bind them up.

Your broken heart? God comes near, then provides healing.

Your crushed spirit? Restored. Saved. 

Take comfort, friends, in having a loving, compassionate God who cares so deeply for his children.