Crushed In Spirit
I can vividly remember the feeling of being crushed in spirit even when I was young as some fellow classmates were killed in a car accident. I remember the finality of their deaths and thinking about how life is a vapor. I can also remember being crushed in spirit 23 years ago spending my first Christmas away from my kids. It was devastating. I look back on moments when my spirit was crushed – I felt my only option was turning to the Lord. He lifted me up. He helped me walk through the waves of discouragement and struggle.
Job is being lectured a bit by his friends whom he’s looking to for a bit of encouragement. He pushes back yet again on them, but this time he reveals his crushed spirit a bit differently. Check this out…
16 My face is red with weeping,
dark shadows ring my eyes;
17 yet my hands have been free of violence
and my prayer is pure.
18 ‘Earth, do not cover my blood;
may my cry never be laid to rest!
19 Even now my witness is in heaven;
my advocate is on high.
20 My intercessor is my friend
as my eyes pour out tears to God;
21 on behalf of a man he pleads with God
as one pleads for a friend.
22 ‘Only a few years will pass
before I take the path of no return. (Job 16:16-22 NIV)
I can almost feel the wetness of his cheeks from tears. It is clear at this point that Job is passing the test because his heart is still pursuing God’s heart. Even in the midst of this mind-numbing suffering he is humbled before the Lord.
I think there is truth in this for me as I journey through times of being crushed in spirit. I needed reminding that the Lord is still in charge of my life. My one goal should be to glorify and honor Him. I really often try to honor myself with my life instead of honoring Him. I am often very self-centered instead of God-centered. He will lift me up properly when I have Him in His proper place. The Lord, Whom I seek to glorify, is also the one Who lifts me up when my spirit is crushed and weak. He gives me strength to push through the pain.
He gives me joy to celebrate the journey.
He gives me victory over struggle and pain.
His reward is far greater than I can imagine here on earth.
I don’t always understand my struggles or the struggles of others, but I know that the Lord is on the scene and available to help all who are crushed in spirit.
Pressing On!
Dwayne