Sunday, June 8, 2014

The Hurt and the Healer

Jesus Christ reaches down to help the woman taken in adultery,
who is about to be condemned by the people .
Image courtesy of LDS.org

Home from church today with Lizzie, who is has a stomach bug.  I felt a blog post about Jesus would be a good Sabbath day activity.  

I often listen to KLOVE and much of the music they play inspires me.  As I sing along (usually in the car) I find myself pondering the lyrics and applying them to my life.  In doing so I find direction, comfort, and insight.  One of my favorite songs is Mercy Me's The Hurt and the Healer.
Verse One:
Why?
The question that is never far away
The healing doesn't come from being explained
Jesus please don't let this go in vain
You're all I have
All that remains
So here I am
What's left of me
Where glory meets my suffering 
Chorus: 
I'm alive
Even though a part of me has died
You take my heart and breathe it back to life
I fall into Your arms open wide
When the hurt and the healer collide

One can readily see the purpose of this song to comfort those that have lost a loved one.  It's funny, though, because this is not the message that resonates with me.  The first time I intently listened to the lyrics happened to be during a time of my life where I was making major changes in my heart.  As the song says, I felt that a part of me had died; and even though that part of me needed to die (it was cancerous) it was hard.  I love the imagery of Jesus taking my heart and breathing it back to life.  And I absolutely love the phrase 'when the hurt and the healer collide'.  

Verse 2:
Breathe
Sometimes I feel it's all that I can do
Pain so deep that I can hardly move
Just keep my eyes completely fixed on You
Lord take hold and pull me through
Refrain:
It's the moment when humanity
Is overcome by majesty
When grace is ushered in for good
And all our scars are understood
When mercy takes it's rightful place
And all these questions fade away
When out of the weakness we must bow
And hear You say "It's over now"
The words of the refrain are like scripture to me.  Beautifully written.  The songwriter was clearly inspired in penning these lyrics.   
Last part:  
Jesus come and break my fear
Wake my heart and take my tears
Find Your glory even here
This a prayer that I need to utter more often.  I let fear hold me back too often.

 As I re-read the lyrics, I find so many phrases that merit mentioning.  But I don't want to comment too much (perhaps I already have).  If this song inspires you in any way, it will most likely be for what you discover, and not for what I point out.