There are times when even the best of us feel insignificant and worthless.  This is especially true as age and ill health catch up with us.  The world rushes on, but we are caught in a backwater of helplessness, unable to join the rush.  Some of you reading these lines may feel that life has passed you by.  You are too old or too sick or too restricted in some way to feel that you have any real reason for being.  You may have been very active for the Lord once, but that was yesterday.

    You may feel like a bruised reed:  a stick, or staff, that once held weight and served a purpose, perhaps as a walking cane, but now is damaged so it bends and threatens to break.

    You may feel like smoking flax, or a smoldering or smoking wick.  When the wick on an old kerosene lamp burned too long without trimming, it smoked up the chimney and diminished the light.

    Some would simply break the damaged stick and throw it away, or pull the smoking wick out and replace it with a new one.  But not Jesus.  He is gentle with us.  He will not break the bruised reed.  He will not quench the smoking wick.  He chooses to hep us overcome because He cares about the weak.

“Come unto me , all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”  Mt. 11:28

    What a wonderful invitation from our gentle Saviour.  Someday He will sit as judge of all.  But today He is a gentle saviour who cares about the weakest, most helpless among us.  There is a reason why we are here.  He has a use for us in His kingdom.  It may not be the place we once had, but it is important because He has chosen it and prepared us for it.

    I am constantly amazed at how God uses people we would normally think of as unusable.  I have seen some who are restricted to their homes,unable to teach or visit or serve in ways they once did, who have wonderful ministries to needy people.  They keep in touch with those in need by writing notes and sending cards, by calling them on the telephone, by praying for them regularly and sincerely.  They have a ministry of encouragement which far exceeds others I have known who were mobile and active.  And they are an inspiration not only to the ones they minister to, but to others who watch them.

    I have known some who are very limited in education,or who seem not to be as gifted as others in being able to do things such as speak or organize or create or motivate.  But they love the Lord and want to be used so much that He uses them all out of proportion to their abilities.  He doesn’t break the bruised reed or quench the smoking flax.  He repairs the break with His own strength, He trims the wick with the Holy Spirit, and the result is that His purpose is realized.

    I would rather not be a bruised reed or smoking flax, but if that should be my lot, I am grateful for the gentleness of Jesus that will make it possible for me to continue to serve Him as long as He leaves me here.