Garden Club Reflections- Free the Wounded

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me…to set at liberty them that are bruised.” (Luke 4:18) In this prophesied ministry goal, Jesus has a uniquely-worded task. Why? Why would a bruised or wounded person need to be set free? Does wounding trap us? Does the bitterness of resentment mar our tender souls, keeping us confined, unable to grow, thrive, and transform?

               This is all true! We’ve either been that chained, wounded soul or we’ve known someone who has. Or worse, we’ve been the one doing the damage. In that case, regret can be those impenetrable bars. And yet Jesus can teach us HOW to be free. When He prayed, “Father, forgive them,” He set the example of releasing the wounder though forgiveness. And He showed the way to healing by leaving behind the chains of bitterness and malice. Let’s extricate ourselves, with the help of Jesus, the Liberator, from those prisons of our past hurts. Let’s walk free and grow.