You know you love someone
when they wound you deeply
and you have no desire to return that hurt
It doesn't matter what they've done
It doesn't matter if they even admit they've done anything
What does matter is
you've taken them to heart
I have seen times I have desired something
and whenever I've taken that desire to heart
it has happened
But when someone you love wounds you deeply
it doesn't bring outrage
it doesn't bring anger
these things are a result of looking at the wound from my side
these are a result of looking at me
No, when you love them deeply
they can wound you deeply
and instead of retribution
you want their healing
Because you know that they wounded you
out of their own pain
out of their own suffering
out of their own ignorance
And when you take their pain into your heart
a miracle happens
for that is what He did on the cross
we wounded Him and He did not cry out in retribution
we broke His heart and He did not cry out in bitterness or anger
but rather He answered in love and forgiveness
and so our hope is in Him
{40:28} Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. {40:29} He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. {40:30} Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: {40:31} But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Isaiah 40:28-31
Now suddenly the wound that made me weak
has become my strength
this is the nature of God's grace
For it is love taken to heart
that changes a heart
even the hearts of those who wound you
![[pulsating cross]](astar2.gif)
