MADE WHOLE

I remember my college biology class where we learned that starfish have a unique capability. If a starfish should lose a limb, it can re-grow a new one. The name for this re-growth is regeneration. The process can take years, but when it is complete, you would be hard pressed to tell that the starfish had ever been damaged.

The lives of many people are also damaged. They limp around with burdens from the past. The battles of life have torn at their resolve and stolen bits of their joy, leaving them bruised and crippled. It is easy to do the quick fix and “Band-Aid” the pain or mask the hurt. But underneath the façade lies a bleeding wound that over time will continue to fester until it is laid before the Great Physician.

It can take years for the limb of a starfish to regenerate until it is whole again. However, if you take the starfish away from its source of life, the ocean, not only will it never heal, but it will ultimately die. The same is true with you.

Our source of life is Jesus, and He wants you whole. Many of us go through life with burdens weighing heavily on our shoulders. Whether it is the weight of sin, regret, oppression, persecution, abuse, sorrow, divorce, unfaithfulness, fear, unforgiveness, betrayal, regret…Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” — Matthew 11:28. He wants to come alongside you and complete you. He wants to take the Band-Aids off and properly clean your wounds.

If you want to be made whole and set free from the burdens that weigh you down, call out to Jesus. It will take time and it may not be easy, but if you keep yourself surrounded by Jesus, the source of life, ultimately you will be made whole and complete in Him. And when you are made whole, you will demonstrate the love, peace and hope of Jesus as a testimony to others.

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