Only God Can

“The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?” (Pr 18:14 AV)

 

There is a difference between ‘infirmity’ and ‘wounded’.  ‘Infirmity’ is sickness wherein ‘wounded’ is stricken or smitten.  The other clue is the body is that which is infirmed.  The spirit is that which is smitten.  The writer acknowledges when our bodies are out of whack, it is our demeanor and attitude which usually brings us out of it.  However, when the mind and heart are smitten, this is another thing altogether.  The question has an obvious answer.  The body may be healed by medicine.  However, the mind and heart are the realms of God’s care.  The question suggests a situation wherein the afflicted are beyond helping themselves.  The body may get better as we participate in the healing process.  But if the mind and heart are smitten, God is the one who initiates that healing process.  Before we get too tangled in theology and how God and man participate together to produce an outcome, let’s look at the simple meaning here.  That is, we can often get into circumstances that seem like there is no hope.  But the rhetorical question above has an obvious answer. Who can bear the wounded spirit?  God can!

Serving as a hospital chaplain can be a stressful ministry.  Perhaps the most difficult of all circumstances is being in the room while a terminal diagnosis is shared.  The patient had all sorts of hopes they would get better.  Now, the doctor is telling the ill he or she had better get their house in order.  There are many different emotions this individual goes through. There is anger, denial, envy, depression, acceptance, peace, etc.  Through each of these stages of emotion, there is little a chaplain can do other than to affirm the emotions as real and normal.  Usually, there is little said.  Prayer seems to be the best method of ministry.  That, and simply listening.  Tragic deaths are also pretty tough.  What does one say?  Knowing to heal of the spirit takes time, there is little that can be done.  A good ear and an empathic heart is the medicine that helps.  Infant demise is probably the hardest.  A couple loses all their dreams in a moment.  The chaplain is at a loss for words.  He offers a shoulder.  He offers a prayer.  He begs God to heal their broken hearts.  But there are some things only God can bear.

The takeaway from this is simple.  If we are on the ministering end of someone with a wounded spirit, be sensitive as to the help one offers.  Realize there is no quick fix.  There are no magic words that will make it all go away.  To heal the wounded spirit, above all, takes time.  It takes time for the work of the Holy Spirit to mend and heal something that has been shattered.  If we are on the receiving end, do not be discouraged.  Man can only do so much.  Don’t get discouraged if what mankind is doing doesn’t work as well as expected.  God bears the wounded spirit.  Give Him both time and the benefit of the doubt.  When my brother tragically died in an accident, I didn’t think I would ever come out of the pit to which I descended.  I had nightmares for almost a year.  Even today, about twice a year, I have a dream that he really didn’t die, but rather, ran away to Vegas.  What I learned from this is God can heal a wounded spirit.  We simply have to be patient and yield to the work of the Holy Spirit.  Only the Great Physician can heal the wounded spirit but it is not automatic.  It takes long sessions of prayer, daily bible reading, and the fellowship of the saints.  Give Him your spirit and He will return it to perfect health.