Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"
Several years ago we borrowed a cat from our neighbors that was noted for its success in dealing with groundhogs. It was well named "Tiger," because its disposition was fierce. It seemed to be in a state of perpetual anger with the world. It snarled if you picked it up. The neighbors who owned it cared for it, fed it nicely; but they had to conclude that it must live outdoors (which it seemed to enjoy).
Apparently Tiger had some experiences in "kittenhood" that made it forever after sour on humans. I knew of no redemption for it. It would forever be on the outside, looking in on the happy "party" that it had chosen to refuse to participate in.
But there is Good News for you and me who have suffered experiences in our childhood that have wounded us. There is redemption for us! We don't have to be cast out into that "outer darkness" where we are doomed to watch alone the lights of the heavenly party that we miss going on inside (see Matt. 8:12).
God knows that we humans have deep inner problems that stem from heredity and childhood, even pre-natal experiences. He says of us, "Your heart and mind are sick. From head to foot there is not a healthy spot on your body ..." (Isa. 1:5, 6, Good News Bible). Drugs may temporarily relieve symptoms of our heart-alienation and/or clinical depression--these inner malfunctions more real than Tiger's learned alienation from the little world she lived in. But drugs cannot be a substitute for the healing of the wounded psyche that only the Great Physician can provide. He "healeth all thy diseases." He "renews" our "youth" (Psalm 103:3-5). As a Good Shepherd He "seeks" the wounded, lost soul. His business is happiness that flows from reconciliation.
How has He learned to be the Great Physician of our wounded psyche? Here is the answer: On His cross He endured the total darkness of alienation from His Father ("My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?") and He conquered it by faith! Infinite, glorious achievement! Now this "faith of Jesus" He gives to you and me. In it is virtue to heal us from our "head" to our "toes"--every cell of our inner being. Thank Him for that!
--Robert J. Wieland
From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: December 2, 1998.
Copyright © 2014 by "Dial Daily Bread."
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