May 22

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. — Ps 147:3 BSB

It is said that when a branch of a tree is bruised, the entire tree sends its life-giving sap toward the wounded part to restore it. This is how Christ heals His people when they are bruised by sorrow. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”

There are fields where fierce battles once raged, where armies fought and blood was shed—yet today, birds sing sweet songs, flowers bloom, and the meadows are green with grass and ripening harvests. Likewise, there are homes where once sorrow’s dark clouds hovered, where tears were shed and cries of grief were heard—yet now joyful songs ring out, and smiles light up faces. God’s comfort has healed these homes.

God restores the devastation of sorrow in many ways. He sends new blessings in place of those He took away, just as new flowers bloom after the old ones fade. He even hides a blessing within the heart of the sorrow itself!

Grief is like a dark cloud that fills the sky with thunder and lightning, but from its blackness pours soft, life-giving rain. Sorrow may come with a heavy, threatening presence, but it often carries the very blessing that will restore and heal.