“A bird with a broken wing cannot survive, nor can a man with a broken spirit endure.” – Kilroy J. Oldster

“The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?” – Proverbs 18:14 KJV

“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” – Proverbs 17:22 NIV

During my years spent in southern Utah, I grew to appreciate the early pioneers of the West – the obstacles they faced, the terrain they conquered, and their enduring determination to keep moving forward despite the enormous odds stacked against them.

When I think about all they encountered, the thing that sticks in my mind the most is the uncertainty and fear surrounding any health issue that suddenly came upon them.  With no doctors or urgent care centers close by, no fancy MRI or X-ray machines to accurately diagnose their aliment, and with no pharmacy or medications available to treat their illness, something as simple as a stomachache had to be unnerving.  Was it something as insignificant as a flu bug or food poisoning or was it far more serious in nature – something that required immediate treatment to save their life?

Today, we are blessed with advances in medical technology, hospitals that are easily accessible, and medications that can literally extend lives.  Doctors can quickly evaluate symptoms and make an accurate diagnosis – getting the sick patient the help they need to begin recovery.

When you think about it, we have the ability to diagnose and treat symptoms of the body today like never before in our history, but what about a sick and wounded spirit?  If we are indeed soul and spirit first and foremost, are we aware of the symptoms associated with a sick and weakened spirit?  More importantly, if we realize our spirit is broken and wounded, do we know how to treat it and nurse it back to health again?

Have you ever felt afraid or fearful of the future?  Have you experienced a sadness or depression for no apparent reason?  Have you become overwhelmed or confused by the circumstances surrounding your life?  Have you ever felt lost in your daily routines or felt hopeless or incapable of positively changing your life in any way?  Have you experienced a deep-seeded loneliness – one that’s present even in the midst many friends and family members?

These are all symptoms associated with a sick, broken, and wounded spirit.  Just as the body needs water, nourishment, and rest to heal and survive, our spirits need to be fed, nurtured, and cared for in order to thrive and endure in this world.

Unfortunately, much like the early pioneers and their physical health, we can experience sickness in our spirits and not really understand what’s happening.  In other words, we feel depressed, but we cannot properly diagnose it or accurately treat it.  Too often we end up focusing our efforts on the symptoms – never really addressing the core of what is making us sick and broken in the first place.

We treat fear by dousing it with alcohol or drugs to numb the pain – never dealing with the very heart and source of our fears.  When we’re overwhelmed, we spend money on things we can’t afford all in an effort to make us feel better.  When we’re lonely and not feeling loved, we rush into bad relationships in order to ease the emptiness.  When we feel confused, we quickly move in a direction, any direction in order for us to feel as if we are doing something about our confusion, only to end up in a place where the disarray and turmoil intensify.  We only treat the symptoms – never recognizing the problem as a spiritual one, and thus never taking the necessary steps to get our lives back on track.

How then can we heal a sick or broken spirit?

Pray About Everything

The very act of prayer moves us closer to God who is the Source of all things.  God is Spirit and when our own spirit seeks to communicate with God in prayer, we begin the process of healing our internal wounds and binding together our broken spirits.

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me” – Psalm 51:10 NKJV

Effective prayer comes from the heart.  It doesn’t require the right words, nor does it require a perfect person before it can be heard.  This is why so many people avoid prayer – thinking it must be communicated correctly and offered up by someone who is faultless.  Learn to pray about everything, bringing God into all aspects of your life.  By doing so, you will begin to heal your spirit and peace will quickly follow.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.  Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done.  If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand.” – Philippians 4:6-7 NLT

Listen and Meditate

I often write about slowing the pace of life down, and one way to accomplish this is by taking quiet time each day to listen and meditate.  In the hurried pace of life, it becomes impossible to hear what is going on deep within our spirits.  Quiet time spent listening for God exercises our spirit – working it in a way that heightens our internal senses.

“My sheep recognize my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” – Jesus speaking in John 10:27 NLT

One of the most powerful things you can do to heal a broken, wounded spirit is to quietly listen inward.  Listening is an essential component of prayer tied directly to our communication with God – allowing Him a venue to respond to our needs and concerns.

I have been a Christian my entire life, but only in the past few years have I learned the importance of this spiritual necessity.  Too often we become afraid to listen – frightened of hearing something specific to our lives we’d rather not confront or address. But despite your concerns or issues, I can’t begin to encourage you enough to practice the art of listening inward.  Just like in the physical, natural world, listening is a learned skill that we must practice in order to excel at it.  Over time, the more you listen, the more you will hear.

Meditation is another form of focusing inward – one that’s critical to developing a healthy, vibrant spirit.  Whatever we meditate on (the direction in which we steer our thoughts or the issues we choose to dwell upon) has tremendous spiritual implications. 

“I recall all you have done, O Lord; I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago.  They are constantly in my thoughts.  I cannot stop thinking about them.” – Psalm 77:11-12 NLT

“Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right.  Think about things that are pure, lovely and admirable.  Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” – Philippians 4:8 NLT

Personally, I love to spend my meditation time recalling the promises of God found in His Word.  If I’m feeling lonely, I remember that God has promised to always be with us (Matthew 28:20).  When I’m confused about what to do next, I meditate on God’s promise to give us His wisdom if we simply ask (James 1:5).  When I’m feeling convicted, I recall how God forgives us and remembers our sins no more (Psalm 103:8-14).

You can also take the advice Paul gave to the Philippians by meditating on what is true, right, and admirable.  If you are sick or burdened by disease, meditate on God’s healing power and His loving care for you.  If you feel depressed by your current circumstances, think about all the wonderful blessings God has provided for you.  Concentrate on how God is actively delivering you from your current situation – working in your life in ways you cannot see or imagine.  If you feel like things are spinning out of control, meditate on God’s sovereignty – remembering nothing happens within your life that’s outside of His reach or protection.

I pray that tonight you become more aware of the symptoms associated with a broken, wounded spirit.  I hope you can connect with the importance of feeding it, nurturing it, and caring for it – just as you do your physical body. 

I pray that if you feel sick and broken in spirit, you begin to spend more quiet time alone – learning to listen inwardly, meditating on God’s promises, and focusing your thoughts on all that is true, honorable, and right.   Most of all, learn to pray about everything and watch how God begins to heal, comfort, and grow your spirit as you abide with Him.

“The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” – Psalm 34:18 NIV

“My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.” – Psalm 73:26 NLT

God bless!