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Life demands growth. If a living organism gets stuck at any level of development, stagnation and degeneration will set in. If left un-nourished, death is inevitable. It's just a matter of time. The violation of these God-given principles cause severe and painful consequences. The good news; Jesus turns what may seem to be the waste places in our lives into flourishing, life-giving pools of refreshment.

My personal, early development mirrored this issue so many still face every day. Barely living. Squeezing out another day, struggling to get through life. As a result; my existence was stuck in pain, woundedness, life-destroying habits, sin, bad relationships or loneliness. Bummer! Not trying to bring you down or invite you to some pity party.

Papa has a redemptive point in my sharing this with you. Even if you are creating an alternate reality every day in hopes of survival, He remains undaunted in His quest for your wholeness. Or if you are vainly attempting some form of self-medication: Jesus desires to nurture you back to abundant life! He more than anyone understands your infirmities.

Having infirmities indicates a weakness or lack of strength that comes from previous unhealed wounding or crippling abuse and or deprivation. Having infirmities is not a sin, but they will weaken your resistance to temptation. Because of unhealed or unresolved infirmities, our growth is impaired. Today, so many are so impaired that if they do not get repaired it will be nigh to impossible to be prepared for abundant living!

The good news; Jesus not only understands the fact of our infirmities, but as our High Priest, He understands the feeling of our infirmities. He understands the crippling, the weaknesses, the shame, the emotional hang-ups, the inner conflicts, the frustration, the anxiety, the fear of exposure, the depression, the sense of failure, the rejection of self and others, the abandonment, the empty attempts of self medicating behaviors, and the repeated relational failures.

Jesus understands the isolation and loneliness. He understands our vain attempt to cope and cover up. He understands our secret wars and our many losses. He understands it all and can be touched by the feeling of our infirmities. Jesus graced us to survive to this moment and he will grace us back to life! He nurtures our infirmities by his healing grace.

"He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases." Matthew 8:17. "Likewise the Spirit also helps our infirmities; for we know not what we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit itself makes intercession for us...according to the will of God." Romans 8:26-27. In Hebrews 4:15, Jesus is portrayed as the one "who can be touched by the feeling of our infirmities." The scriptures also exhort the church in Romans 14 to bear with those that are weak, not passing judgment on them for their ongoing struggles.

May we not pass judgment on our own or others infirmities today. May we receive the nurture of Jesus today. May we become the nourishment that helps another get 'unstuck' and water's their thirsty soul with the healing grace of Jesus. It may only take a genuine whisper of affirmation, a simple act of kindness or a smile of understanding acceptance.

In the grip of Papa's grace, Ron Ross