Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities

Take your brokenness to the Great Physician

Religion columnist

I have had a few broken bones in my lifetime.

When I was 9, I was walking with some friends on the top of a cinder-block fence not far from my house on North Gidding. I fell off and hit the ground and I broke my left foot.

My parents took me to Dr. Alan Haynes Sr. After he did x-rays, Dr. Haynes confirmed my foot broken and put me on crutches.

Then at 10 years old, I was swinging on the monkey bars at Highland Elementary School — yes Highland was around way back then. I fell off the monkey bars and broke my left wrist.

The teacher on duty saw me fall. She came over, assessed the situation and then sent me to the nurse’s office to rest. I hurt so badly, so I acted as if I were going to the nurse’s office and then sneaked out of Highland. I rode my bike home, guiding my bike with my right arm, crying all the way.

When I got home, Mother headed straight to wonderful Dr. Haynes again. He saw me immediately, comforted me, and then told us to meet him at the hospital.

It was at the old Clovis Memorial Hospital where my arm was X-rayed. Dr. Haynes confirmed a compound fracture.

I was soon put to sleep, my wrist set and, when I woke up, a cast covered my arm from my hand to my elbow.

Once I broke my nose, too, but that is another story.

Yes I have had some bones broken in my lifetime. When I had all those injuries, they hurt, they swelled and they throbbed with pain. With medication and time, all was back to normal in each situation.

But during each injury, I was in a semi state of “brokenness.”

The Bible speaks of being broken and brokenness. For instance, when I see my own sin, as a child of God I am broken from seeing the results of my sinful actions. The only cure for that brokenness is a contrite heart toward God, a submissive heart, a heart that asks for forgiveness.

Might I go ahead and add this illustration? My parents took me to wonderful Dr. Haynes each time and he knew just what to do. He was the expert. Dr. Haynes took me in my state of brokenness and put me on the mend. I just had to follow his instructions, be patient and my wrist today years later is fine.

Neither I nor my parents could fix my wrist. Only Dr. Haynes could address my broken wrist because he was the expert.

Is that not what our wonderful God, the Great Physician does? He is the expert at fixing brokenness. We come to him with all the issues in our broken lives — sins, hurts, sorrows, disappointments, and unfilled dreams. Our spirits are broken, our feelings are broken, our relationships and dreams may be shattered.

So Jesus says to us: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:21-30)

Sometimes we are so broken that we cannot function in life and Jesus offers us peace and security. “Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.” (Psalm 62:8)

Further, Jesus comes near when we ask him. “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18)

And is that not what he did on the cross? “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)

Take all your brokenness to the Great Physician. He will heal you.

Judy Brandon writes about faith for the Clovis News Journal. Contact her at:

[email protected]

 
 
Rendered 03/13/2024 14:40