The Touchable Heart

I remember the first time I went to church after I became a Christian. I was 17, and a random girl walked up to me, gave me a hug, and said, “I love you, brother!”

I thought, “I don’t even know you. And why are you touching me?”

As a result of my crazy childhood, my heart had become hard. We didn’t express emotion in our home, so I closed myself off to the world. I justified it my telling myself that’s how I survived. I found it difficult to give love and accept it, even though I felt it.

But when Christ comes into your life, your heart becomes more touchable. It goes out to those who are suffering or hurting or abused.

Simon and Garfunkel sang, “I have no need of friendship; friendship causes pain. It’s laughter and it’s loving I disdain. I am a rock. I am an island.”

Some people are like that. They’re rocks. But when you become a Christian, your heart gets softened. As C. S. Lewis pointed out, “To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and you heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken.”

As believers, we should have a heart for those who are hurting. Don’t condemn them; reach out to them and love them. Don’t judge them; have compassion for them. We don’t want to waste our pain or our tears.

The psalmist tells us, “Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him” (Psalm 126:5–6 NLT).

One day, God will right every wrong. He will bring beauty out of ashes and give us joy instead of mourning. Until that day, we need to lovingly represent Him to those who are hurting.