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March 2, 2012
Friend of a Wounded Heart
Laura MacCorkle, Crosswalk.com Senior Editor
Jesus, He meets you where are
Oh, Jesus, He heals your secret scars
All the love you’re longing for is Jesus
The friend of a wounded heart
“Friend of a Wounded Heart”
Lyrics & Music by Wayne Watson
A couple of weeks ago I had the opportunity to hear singer-songwriter Wayne Watson in concert.
Now I was a huge fan of Wayne back in the day and all things contemporary Christian music, and so it was great to see him and experience his talent all over again. Last time I listened to what he had to say, though, it was via cassette tape. So it’s been a little while.
But as we all know, many times absence makes the heart grow fonder. And so hearing songs like “Home Free”, “When God’s People Pray”, “Field of Souls” and “Somewhere in the World” were like spending an evening with old friends. And then, when Wayne performed “Friend of a Wounded Heart,” I knew why the Lord had prompted me to attend this concert that evening and why this song still moves me so deeply.
Smile, make them think you’re happy
Lie, and say that things are fine
And hide that empty longing that you feel
Don’t ever show it, just keep your heart concealed
Can you relate to this song’s opening stanza? Do you know what it’s like to have a heart that aches but are doing everything in your power to conceal it from the rest of the world? I do. And I choke up every time I hear or sing these words. We think it’s easier to just hide the hurt away. To tuck away our pain. To act like everything is okay. To not admit to being weak. To not having our acts together.
Why are the days so lonely?
I wonder where, where can a heart go free?
And who will dry the tears that no one sees?
There must be someone to share your silent dreams.
This second stanza echoes our cries, does it not? How it hurts to have a wounded heart! How painful it is to feel alone in your pain! To bear the secret scars. Ones that are fresh or ones that have been there quite a while. I have them, too. And at times, the pain is more than I can bear. And I feel all alone.
But this song reminds me that I’m not. And you’re not. Even though we are all walking wounded, there is Someone who is there. Someone who knows my wounded heart. Someone who knows yours. He meets us where we are. He knows our secret scars.
Later, the song encourages that . . .
Joy, comes like the morning
Hope, deepens as you grow
And peace, beyond the reaches of your soul,
Comes blowing through you, for love has made you whole
Do you believe that today, my friend? God’s love has made you whole. Praise him!
Praise the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness . . . Let everything that has breath praise the LORD (Psa. 150: 1-2, 6, NIV).
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him (Psa. 103:11-13, NIV).
Praise him! Love him! Adore him! He is the friend of our wounded hearts.
Intersecting Faith & Life: Are you ready to bring your secret scars to the Father today? Are you tired of acting like everything’s fine? Let it go. Give it to him. He’s waiting for you with “arms open wide, love in his eyes.”
Further Reading:
Isa. 53:4-5, NIV
Mark 6:56, MSG
1 Peter 2:24, NIV
“Jesus, What a Friend for Sinners”
Words: John Wilbur Chapman (1910)
Music: Rowland Pritchard (1830)
