BRUISED REEDS AND SMOLDERING WICKS - You were upright and sturdy, rooted in the riverbed of confidence. Then you were bruised by harsh words, a friend’s anger, a spouse’s betrayal, religion’s rigidity, or your own failure. Once you blazed with faith. Then they said your ideas were foolish, your dreams were too lofty. Christ met people at all points of pain. By His touch bruised reeds straightened and smoldering wicks were ignited.

 
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Bruised Reeds and Smoldering Wicks
by Max Lucado

 ^“3 a bruised reed he will not break,

    and a faintly burning wick he will not quench;
    he will faithfully bring forth justice.” Isaiah 42:3 English Standard Version (ESV)

Look at a bruised reed at the water’s edge — once slender, sturdy, and tall — now bowed and bent.  

Are you a bruised reed?  

You were upright and sturdy, rooted in the riverbed of confidence. 

Then you were bruised by harsh words, a friend’s anger, a spouse’s betrayal, religion’s rigidity, or your own failure.

Is there anything closer to death than the smoldering wick on a candle? 

Once you blazed with faith. 

Then they said your ideas were foolish, your dreams were too lofty.

But the theme of the New Testament is that God is the friend of the wounded heart and the keeper of your dreams.  

Christ met people at all points of pain. 

By His touch bruised reeds straightened and smoldering wicks were ignited.

Max Lucado says he “writes books for people who don’t read books.’ Even so, his best-selling books have sold 100 million copies across 54 languages worldwide. Perhaps Lucado is converting non-readers with his poetic storytelling and homespun humor. Perhaps readers can sense that his encouraging words flow from the heart of a pastor.

Every trade book Max Lucado has written during the last 30 years began as a sermon series for his home church Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas. Max presses every word of his sermons through this sieve: Why would this matter on Monday morning? How can I relate the promises of God to every person, wherever they are, regardless of the burdens they carry?

Since his first book On the Anvil was published in 1985, Max Lucado has been sharing the promises of God in sermons, books, articles and media interviews. His writing is also featured in videos, devotionals, songs, plush toys, greeting cards, booklets, Bible studies, and Bible commentaries. 130 million of these products have been sold around the globe. His books regularly appear on national bestseller lists including the New York Times.

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