Where's the Lysol?

Today’s Scripture:

The human spirit can endure a sick body, but who can bear a crushed spirit? Proverbs 18:14

Sickness has overtaken my home.  And as we call them, the snot rockets are flying like a Fourth of July Celebration.  I apologize for the lack of devotions at the end of last week, but with the tube surgery for Luke and sickness in our home; I was stretched far too thin to even sit and write a devotional.  That is what happens when you are Mommy doesn’t it?  Just this morning I took 1000 mg of Vitamin C and 10,000 units of Vitamin D in the hopes of warding off the virus in my house.  My statement over the Lysol may come across as a joke to some because I am really not a germ freak at all.  I have friends who at the first sign of illness in their homes will break out the bleach and proceed to wipe everything down that isn’t moving!!! I, on the other hand, may wipe a few choice things like light switches, door handles, and such; but I am just not an overboard kind of panic cleaner.  I do my regular weekly cleaning (dust, Windex, bathrooms, and vacuum) but I won’t become captive to cleaning. 

Now no one likes to get sick or see their family not feeling well; but as today’s scripture states, we can endure sickness but when our spirit is hurting that is a different story.  Coughing, sneezing, fever, aching, and all the other unpleasant symptoms of illness are hard on a body, whether young or old; but when your heart is hurting it often feels like the sun may never rise again…or at least not in your lifetime.  Physical sickness is just that, physical pain…but emotional sickness/hurt is hard to explain. It is a different kind of hurt. Our spirit can often be crushed as a result of a multitude of ways.  It could be circumstances beyond our control, or even brought on by our own choices or actions at one point or another.  It could be from the quick tongue of a loved one, doctor delivering bad news, or even a stranger.  Maybe it is at the mercy of addiction, depression, or true mental illness caused by chemical imbalances.  No matter the cause, I feel a hurting heart is way worse than a sore throat or snotty nose.  What I have found to help is resting in my God who is always bigger than my hurt.  In Psalm 34:18 it says, “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”  How comforting is that?  He hears our crying in the darkness, in our time of need, our heartache, and our despair!!! Our Father is with us, we are not alone.  Be encouraged, you and I are not alone in our hurting.  He is holding us, collecting our tears in a jar, loving us!  Give your heart over to Him. I can assure you, He is the only one who will not let us down, for He alone is perfect in every way!  Cast your sadness on Him, and He will bring joy to your heart which overflows!