In Luke 10:25-37, Jesus tells a story about a man who had been robbed, stripped of his clothes, and left for dead on the side of the road. When two religious men saw him, they crossed the street to avoid him. But then another man walked by and noticed the wounded man. Instead of moving away from him, he moved towards him. He bent down and bandaged the man’s wounds, took him to an inn, and paid for the care he needed to get well.
This isn’t just a story Jesus told; it’s the story He lived — a story that paints a picture of who He is. Filled with compassion and concern, Jesus always moved closer, not just with words but with action. Compelled by love that wants to help when we’re hurting, Scripture promises that He is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
I needed to be reminded of these truths recently when our family was on a long-awaited vacation and my husband, J.J., got stung by a stingray during our second day there.
I was on the porch when I saw my twenty-three-year old son running towards the house yelling for me to “get something to stop the bleeding from dad’s leg!” We didn’t know what had happened, only that something large and very sharp had pierced J.J.’s ankle, near his Achilles tendon, and he was in horrific pain.
I ran back inside to find towels to wrap around his wound and started praying, “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.”
All of us went into panic mode, insisting we needed to call 911. We needed to elevate and bandage his foot. We needed to wrap something tightly around his leg in case it was poisonous, to stop it from spreading into his bloodstream.
I called 911 and gave my phone to J.J. to tell the dispatcher what had happened. While he was talking and I was praying, I felt compelled to go see if maybe someone staying in the house next to us was a doctor or a nurse. I walked over and knocked on the door, and sure enough one of the moms was a pediatric nurse. She immediately grabbed her large first aid kit and came with me to our place.
Her medical background brought assurance and her presence brought calm to our state of panic as she took J.J.s blood pressure and bandaged his leg. She stayed with us until an ambulance and emergency medical team arrived.
A few minutes later, a woman I didn’t recognize walked up to the porch and introduced herself as Deb, our rental home’s property manager. She “happened to be nearby” and saw the ambulance. She stayed until we left in the ambulance, to make sure J.J. was okay and to make sure I knew how to get in touch with her so she could arrange transportation back from the hospital late that night. I had no idea how big of a provision Deb would be in the hours that followed.
We were staying on an island in South Carolina that’s only accessible by ferry. The nearest hospital was on a larger island thirty minutes away. It would take two ambulances and a ferry to get us to the ER, where we would wait for hours to get X-rays and antibiotics to prevent infection.
While in the ER, we met a family with a little boy who had an infected appendix. J.J. offered his spot on the ER waiting list to help him be seen sooner. Several hours later, while I was trying to get an Uber ride back to the dock in time to catch the last ferry at 11:30pm, that little boy’s grandpa heard me talking and offered to give us a ride.
Because of his kindness, we got to the dock just in time and made it back to the island by midnight where Deb met us in a golf cart and took us back to our beach house rental.
When the trauma of J.J.’s injury happened, we were both in shock and scared. As time passed, we grew frustrated and upset, knowing he would be in pain for days and our desperately needed vacation may be ruined.
We were hoping to recover from two months of extremely difficult circumstances, one after another in the weeks leading up to our vacation. Our whole family was together for the first time in months. We needed downtime, laughter, and fun. Now another injury and disruption threatened to highjack all we had hoped for.
Feeling a little abandoned by God, we questioned why all of this was happening. But in the midst of our disappointments and painful moments, Jesus showed up in so many ways, to take care of us again and again. Each person who met us in our need reminded me of how Jesus will never just walk by us. He promises to come to our side, to bend low, to provide for us, and be with us.
When trials threaten our peace or our responsibilities, jobs, and failures discourage us, instead of being overwhelmed by our lives, God wants us to be overwhelmed by His love. His love is present and powerful, and no amount of stress or pain, struggle, or circumstance can keep us from Him.
With outstretched hands, Jesus came to bind up our wounds and care for us. No matter what we need, He moves in close, offering healing for our hurts, comfort for our concerns, and rest for our weary souls.
Leave a Comment
Jasmine says
Only through His overwhelming Love, we realised no small or big things even the world’s life circumstances can overwhelm us. Everything will pass and became memory and history..
Thank you for your sharing.
Blessings.
Renee Swope says
Amen, His love shows up in so many ways — big and small!
Ruth Mills says
Love this! I never connected the dots of it illustrating Who Jesus IS not just how we should treat others. Another example of His Word being Living & active! Thank you for blessing me (& others!!!) with your writing.
Renee Swope says
So glad that the parallel between Jesus and the Good Samaritan encouraged you Ruth. I have noticed so much of Jesus’ heart and His way of life in the parables He told.
Rachel Kang says
I love you. I love you so much. Thank you for letting us in on this story…this moment.
I still can’t believe this happened. And JJ giving up his spot? Tears to my eyes. I’m so thankful he is okay.
This truth is a balm to my heart. Jesus sees us. And we also get to see/love others as Jesus does while we’re in the midst of our own struggles. Such grace.
Renee Swope says
I love you toooooo!!! And yes sweet friend, Jesus sees us. All of us. We are not forgotten or overlooked. He is always working for our good and His glory in our struggles. xoxo
Faith Kenny says
Thank you for sharing. Thank you for your commitment and faithfulness. This was much need, I will be saving it to read for future times.
Faith
Renee Swope says
I’m so glad it encouraged you Faith. I needed to be reminded of these truths again the day my post was featured. God times things so perfectly.
Carolyn says
Thank you for the reminder that God is never out of reach and continually cares for us in all our situations.
Renee Swope says
Always, always, always. We just have to look for Him in the details.
Beth Williams says
Renee,
Praising God for your husband’s healing. God is always near to us. He is there waiting to show you His provision. I’ve witnessed it myself in small ways. While away at college a family living down hill brought dinner to me the first night & fed me often. People in that community loved on me. Now I have a chance to shower others with God’s provision. Joining with Loaves & Fishes-local feeding program/food pantry I get to help make food boxes, assemble & hand out meals & yes even pray with & for them. It seems like such a small thing, but it can make a big impact on people’s lives. One person asked what time they had church. God will provide for us ALL the time no matter the situation. He will put the right people in our path to help us on our journey.
Blessings 🙂
Olivia says
Thank you! Reading this brings to my mind…for such a time as this… through your events you touched the lives of others and vice versa. May God continue to comfort, keep, and strengthen you.
Dawn Ferguson-Little says
Thank you for sharing this story. My story is a bit different. I was told a nearly a year ago. My Aunt who is not saved. Had had a stroke. She is my favourite Aunt. The only one left in my late Mum side of the family. So I went on line to look for a prayer for myA
Aunt. I believed it and stood on the promises in it for my Aunt. She was really not well. Her family thought she never be truly back to herself. She has even lost her voice. So I prayed for God to restore that. Other things that were in the prayer I got online for my Aunt. I truly believed them for my Aunt. She made a full recovery. But has lost some weight. But is back to my lovely Aunt that love with all my heart. She knows my Aunt I was praying for her. But you can’t tell her. As she not saved and wouldn’t want to know. It was God through the Doctor answering my prayers thar has her were she today. Back in her own home again. As after she got out of Hospital. My Aunt had to stay with her Daughter for awhile. So God was so good. He answered my prayers for my Aunt. I have become of Covid not seen her since she had her stroke. But heard from her family she is doing really well. They are amazed at that. So I was 86 miles away from my Aunt. I was able to pray. God was good. He answered my prayers. Like he did for for your Husband Renee and provide help for you all. Like the lift Home from the Hospital. So God Is Good All The Time. All The Time God Is So Good. See we can fear the worst. But we don’t have to when we got God on our side. I continue to pray for my Aunt’s Salvation. She said my Aunt Thank you for praying for me. When I had the stroke. I said glad too. I couldn’t tell her I can’t even today. It was through God answering my prayers with the help of the Doctors my Aunt as well as she is today. Like your prayers were answered Renee for your Husband. In times like this we can panic. Fear the worst. We just need to be calm and pray to God in times like this. Trust and keep believing. Thank you for thid great word. Love you all incourage. I pray for you all. All the way from Enniskillen in Co.Fermanagh N.Ireland. That God would bless you all as you do this work writting these reading. For us so we can grow closer to God through reading them. Plus for your honesty in them and sharing about your lives too how God has help you all through them. Love Dawn xx
jo says
Encouraged me!! Thank you for sharing your aunt story. Bless you
Mary Gemmill says
I LIVE reading of God’s goodness and faithfulness!
Thanks for sharing.
I hope you got some good vacation days after all of this!
Karli Friesen says
Thanks Renee.
Dawn says
Beautifully written and stated. God will draw near to those who ask for Him to do so. Keeping our focus on Him and His love for us should give us the reassurance that He is near and will stay near in all circumstances.