The Bowed Down Ones

#Poetry, Chronic Illness, Uncategorized

 

Bowed low 9-23-19

 

Her pain weighed her down

Unable to stand

She yet pressed in,

At the Temple

She bowed low.

 

“Daughter,” He cried,

“Arise, be made whole!”

Out of the crowd gathered

There at the courts

He called her forth.

 

Jesus saw her shame

As the Pharisees

Condemned

Sited the rules

To quench the joy.

 

“Shouldn’t this

Daughter of Abraham

Be included here?”

He brought her in

When others shut out.

 

Another day,

Another woman,

Another one bowed low.

 

This one longed for Grace

Just one glimpse

Just one touch

To heal her long-carried shame,

She pressed in through the crowd.

 

Her faith saw Jesus true

And Heaven collided there

With a blood-cursed form

Touching the Corners

Of the Rabbi’s robe.

 

With fear she heard Him call,

“Who touched my robe?”

But with Grace bestowed

Her heart was healed

No shame could touch her now.

 

Another one

Another heart

Much younger still

 

He walked into the room

The young girl lifeless lying there

This time sending the others away

Hidden only within His safety

God’s own Son saw her

 

From the place of death

Where the mourners go

He broke those rules too

And touched her hand, calling

Into the darkness, LIFE breathing

“Little wounded one, Arise!”

 

Her life bowed to the lowest place

Beyond the reaching of man

But the Son of Man touched her

And life was given

Breath poured forth

 

The centuries have rolled

The decades have turned

As Jesus still searches

For hearts bowed low

With a longing to be made whole.

 

My pride weighs me down

As my body bows low

I carry the shame of the curse

I despise the weakness

My bloodline passed down.

 

Oh, but the truth of my Lord

Pulls the shame from my heart

“Daughter, your weakness

Is what draws you to Me,

Arise My Love, come with Me here.”

 

No longer alone

No more despising

I will yet glory in weakness

For Jesus’ love is now displayed

His Strength becomes my own.

–bg

 

Jesus met these women, daughters of Abraham, and lifted them from the place of the curse of death. Where men had condemned, where sickness had destroyed, where death had stolen, He stepped in. He was not offended by their weaknesses. NO, it was their weaknesses that drew Him to them.

 

Last week I had my first full session of Myofascial Release, and as the therapist gently placed her hands on my aching head, I heard my Lord call to my bowed down heart. While the therapist said, “Relax and let the pain go,” I heard Jesus whisper,

“Let Me carry the pain. Remember I have already asked you to come inside with me.” 

As the session ended, the therapist said that I had responded so well to a first session of allowing the spasm of the fascia to begin to release. She could tell that I have carried the weight of the pain, the shame of failed medications, the minimizing of so many, deep within my own body.

 

And suddenly, what my Lord had spoken to me so many months ago began to make sense,

“Come inside with Me. I am already here, and I am not offended by your pain. I want to be with you.” 

When I have hunched and curled, and hidden away the pain within myself, He has never been surprised. He has been waiting for the moment that I would allow Him to carry the pain for me, to carry me as that little wounded lamb.

 

He has been waiting to lift my bowed down heart. He has been waiting to call out,

“Arise, my wounded lamb! Come with Me, and find the true heart healing of being touched by the Maker of the Universe.”

 

I encourage you to read these stories of such deep heart healing, even as physical pain was lifted. The story of the young girl is told in Mark 5.  My dear friend Anna, who is writing at the re-birthed Beloved Prodigal, brought me such a blessing as we shared about the young girl’s healing. She pointed me in the direction of a beautiful word study, by a Hebrew teacher that we both follow Chaim Bentorah. You can find his study here, on Matthew 18:3.

 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:3

Jesus used that same term when He called that young girl back to life. He called her “talitha,” or “little girl,” which can also be translated as “wounded little lamb.”

 He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). Mark 5:21

 

If you want to read more of the first woman’s story, read it here in Luke 13:11-17.

 

If you want to read more of the second woman’s story, read it here in Mark 5:24-34. Her story is told in the very middle of that young girl’s story–you may recognize her as Jairus’ daughter. . . Jesus was on the way to heal her when that second bowed down woman reached out to touch His robe.

 

On the way to a healing,

On the way to a death,

Jesus brought life wherever He went.

 

Would you say, along with me, that your life feels bowed down and too heavy?

Could you look inside where Jesus is already waiting, on the way to bring new life?

 

Dear Jesus,

Thank you that You do not disdain our weaknesses. Thank You that You call us to press in closer to You, and to give You every thought that has arisen about our weakened state.  Will You help us to lay every weight that bows us so low here at Your feet?  May we let You touch the very spots that are so tender and bruised.  Help us to lift our hearts to You and Your grace. Thank You that every time the pain calls out to us in shame, You are calling us to arise with You, in Your strength and love. You are everything we need.

In Your precious name we pray, Amen.

 

 

 

And thank you to Lisa Anne Tindall for her beautiful thoughts about that second bowed down woman. She stirred my heart to remember this poem the Lord had begun in my heart over two years ago. Please read her lovely post here.

 

I am linking with:

#LMMLinkup

#Teaandword

#Tellhisstory

 

 

 

 

Published by Bettie G

Jesus follower, Wife, Mom, and Grandma, journeying through chronic illness one day at a time

Published

47 thoughts on “The Bowed Down Ones”

  1. Today’s Bible Gateway MESSAGE says AMEN to the above:
    Romans 5:3-5 The Message (MSG)
    3-5 There’s more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience, in turn, forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!

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    1. Oh yes, Amen. Such a precious confirmation from the Lord. And I love the Message translation here: “because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us.” I don’t think that I have ever considered patience something to be passionate about, but oh, how I desire the Lord to bring me His teaching and fruit there. Thank you for sharing these beautiful Words today. Blessings and love to you, Dear Sister!

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  2. This is a beautiful poem, Bettie, and such great stories. The one about the woman who touched Jesus’ robe has always been a favourite of mine! It’s amazing that he sees us even when others don’t and that he wants to remove the pain and shame and make us whole!

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  3. Your words are beautiful. I am reminded that no matter how I feel, God loves me. He waits for me to share time with Him. He gives me peace and comfort that only He can provide. Thank you for continuing to encourage and inspire me.

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    1. Dear Melissa,
      Oh I am so thankful that Jesus does bring us such encouragement. His peace and His comfort cannot compare with anything the world has to offer. Oh may we keep our hearts turned towards Him. Blessings and love to you!

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  4. Bettie, a lovely poem from the heart. That is a favorite passage of mine. I am always at the power that goes out Him and yet He can still raise the daughter of Jairus.I know He still heals and He never tires like we do, even though He had to rest on earth. And I did not know about the lamb, I love studying Hebrew.

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    1. Dear Rebecca,
      Yes, He has so much power and love, beyond our imaginings! How thankful I am that He never tires now. But you are right that He did have to rest on earth–He fully understands all of our weaknesses. His Word is so full and rich for us. Many blessings and love to you.

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  5. Bettie, This post was so poignantly written. You have a real gift for writing and for writing with humility directed to the heart.

    Your post went along with a lesson the Lord taught me recently that even in worry, the Lord has compassion on me. He meets me in my weakness. He understands.

    Praising God for your good session with the therapist.

    Thanks for sharing.

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    1. Dear Karen,
      Thank you for your kind words, and for your precious comments here. He truly does have such compassion on us. I get so upset when I feel that I have disappointed Him, yes even in my worries too. But you are so right, that He has so much understanding for us. Blessings to you!

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  6. Dear Bettie, What beautiful retellings in poetry form of these Bible stories! These are real people with needs just as we have in this time and place. Your poetry is so beautiful and real. Through your pain and sufferings, God has given you beautiful words to share with us. May we all lean on Him in our pain and weakness and see His glory shine through. Much love to you, dear sister, with many hugs and blessings! xoxo

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    1. Dear Gay, Thank you for all of your love and support through these painful times. You are such a blessing to me, as we can pray for each other and share our hearts. Our Lord brings such gifts into these places of weakness. He truly does call us to lean on Him right there. Thank you for letting His glory shine through your life also dear friend! Blessings, love and hugs to you! xoxo

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  8. Such beautiful stories of Jesus’ amazing love for these precious souls! And, to think that He loves us just as much! I so enjoyed visiting with you today, sweet friend, and I am continuing to pray for you and trust that these treatments will be the answer you have sought for so long.

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    1. Yes, isn’t it amazing how much our Jesus loves us? We just glimpse such a small portion of how deep His love goes, and even then we are thrilled. Thank you so much for your visit here, Dear Cheryl, and for your continuous prayers. I am still having trouble commenting at your blog–I think I must be doing something wrong! 🙂 But I am so thankful that He allows us to pray for each other across the miles. May He bless you so deeply my Dear Sister.

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  9. What stood out to me in your poem was that Jesus “broke the rules”. We tend to put limitations on God, don’t we? Naturally, we are all legalists to a certain degree. Jesus is not. He breaks those man-made rules and He breaks the chains that bind us. There is freedom and healing in Jesus. Thanks for this beautiful reflection on the powerful Truth of Who God is and what He does for us.

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    1. Oh, yes, we do set up our man-made rules and expect God to follow our own ways, don’t we? What an amazing Lord we have who comes in and breaks those chains and brings us so near to the Father. Thank you for your precious comments here. May you be blessed this week.

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  10. This is so beautiful and encouraging, Bettie. Yes, He brings us in when others shut us out. And it is our weakness that draws us to Him. These lines especially bring tears to my eyes as I picture Him picking us up as wounded lambs.
    “Daughter, your weakness
    Is what draws you to Me,
    Arise My Love, come with Me here.”
    Thank you for this needed comfort today, my dear friend. May God bless the treatments! Love and blessings to you!

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    1. Dear Trudy,
      Isn’t our Jesus such a good, good shepherd for us, as He so tenderly calls to us? I am so thankful that He is comforting you today my dear friend. And your prayers mean so much to me also. May He continue to lift your bowed down places and bring you close to His heart. Love and Blessings and hugs to you!

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    1. Oh, Athira, thank you for asking! I am still in a lot of pain, but Jesus helps me so much. Even in the hardest places, He helps me to look up to Him! How are you? I am praying for God to bless you today!

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    1. Thank you for your sweet and kind comments Mary! And thank you for all the work you do to provide a safe & loving link-up. I continue to pray for you also, Dear RASister!

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  13. Dear Bettie, another beautiful post. From ashes to glory, from pain to beauty, from death to life. Thank you for sharing your faith journey as you lean in hard to Jesus through each painful step. I ache for you and I continue to pray for a lifting, for relief, for healing, for breakthrough in the treatments. Your words are capture the depth of pain we all feel at times, but you carry so often. May the Lord continue to whisper to you His love and grace. Blessings and love to you.

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    1. Dear Melissa,
      I am sorry that I missed this comment last week! I appreciate your depth of caring and love so much. Your prayers are a gift of grace from the Lord’s heart to me. He truly does help us to lean in hard to Him through each painful step. May you be blessed with His dear presence today. Love you!

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  14. Thank you for your wonderfully written words, Bettie, that stem from a heart brought low yet lifted high by our Saviour and Lord. There’s such beauty and transparency in your poetic uniting of these biblical stories woven with your own. You helped transport us back to what happened then, and bring us to a fresh recollection of God’s healing power and strength in our weakness.
    I’m so thankful for your sweet voice and the depths it conveys about suffering being met by God’s great compassion and love. The humility you display makes it all the more poignant and honest. It’s not surprising that so many are touched by your posts, including me. They resonate because they speak of a living reality: your pain, sickness and weakness, and how powerfully God meets with you there. Truly inspiring thoughts to stir usva

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    1. Dear Joy,
      I am so moved and blessed that you were touched here. Your words have so often been that same place of comfort for me. We have such a gentle shepherd who not only understands the deepest places of our wounds, but also meets us right there with His balm. I appreciate all of your prayers and encouragement so much. And I pray that He is bringing you such encouragement in your days also. Much love and hugs from across the pond my dear Heart-Sister xoxo

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      1. Dear Bettie, I’m glad you realise how powerfully your words are speaking to me and so many. God is clearly at work in you. The comfort which Christ brings us is a gift He intends us to share with others. We truly do have a shepherd such as you have described. The consolation He offers is such a gift in life’s hard places. A balm of rest, peace, hope and healing for hurting souls, and weary, pain-filled bodies too.
        By the way, I must apologise for the abrupt ending of my last comment. It was caused by intermittent, unreliable internet, coupled with a malfunctioning tablet. I didn’t intend to publish it before it was finished. Oops! Technology has a way of tripping us up sometimes. Sending love, hugs and prayers to you too, dear Heart-Sister and friend. xoxo 💜

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        1. Dear Joy, Thank you for being the hands and feet of Jesus bringing consolation to me here. You have such a way of getting to the heart of what I am really feeling, and then bringing a depth from the Lord right there. I am so very thankful that you took extra time to comment here again today, even when your own energy is so very limited. I pray that He will bring you such blessings for your Sunday, and a week with glimpses of new strength from Him. Love you so much! xoxo

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    1. Dear Mary,
      Thank you for your sweet words of encouragement! I’m sorry it took me so long to respond to your dear comfort. May the Lord bless you as you prepare for your retreat coming up. I pray that He will pour into every life that attends! Love you!

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