The context of the incarnation might have been different. Given Christ’s majesty, it would have been understandable if He had been born and lived out His days atop a high mountain, inviting only the strong and worthy to ascend into His presence. But who could approach Him if He had?

By contrast, our Creator came in humility; He came to dwell among those who could not otherwise ascend to Him. He came gently, as the “Servant of the Lord,” as the One that Isaiah said would not “quarrel nor cry out, nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets. A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not quench, till He sends forth justice to victory.”

This imagery of a “bruised reed” and “smoking flax” is worth considering.

In the case of the “bruised reed,” we picture a damaged reed that, while deeply wounded, still stands aright. And in the case of the “smoking flax” (or the “smoldering wick”) we picture a flame that has been reduced to faint wisps of smoke.

In both cases, these images suggest impairments to the natural and desired condition of the reed and wick; impairments that, although they threaten each item’s utility, have not destroyed them.

Now, it is no great stretch to consider ourselves as being “impaired.” Even on our best of days, we are easily bruised reeds; even at our most joyful, we are a hint of smoke compared to the flame of Christ.

And yet, when Christ comes into our life, does He castigate us for our weakened condition? Is Jesus a cosmic boot-camp instructor, seeking to “weed out” weak believers from the strong?

Of course not.

Our God does not break bruised reeds; He does not quench a smoking candle. Rather, He comes to uphold us in our trials; He comes to fan the spark of our faith into a roaring flame.

Psalm 34 echoes this, saying: “The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.”

If you feel like a “bruised reed” today, either because of things that are out of control, or because of your own errors and omissions, then take comfort that God is near:

The One who bore your sins on Calvary bears you up today.

Toby B. Holt is a Teaching Elder in the Presbyterian Church in America and is Pastor of Harvest Presbyterian Church in Gillette, Wyo. This article is taken from his blog and is used with permission.

[Editor’s note: The link (URL) to the original article is unavailable and has been removed.]