Put all sorrow's wounds into His hand

(J. R. Miller, "By the Still Waters")

"He restores my soul." Psalm 23:3

In several ways does the shepherd restore his sheep.
If one wanders away, he goes out after it, and seeks
it until he finds it, restoring it to the shelter of the
fold. If one faints and grows sick by the way, in the
hard journey or the burning heat—the shepherd does
not leave it to die, but takes it up in his arms, and
carries it home, restoring it to the fold. If a sheep is
hurt, torn by a wild beast or injured by accident—the
shepherd tends its wounds until they are healed.

All this suggests how our Good Shepherd restores our
souls. Sometimes we wander away. It is very easy to
drift off from Christ. The drifting is often unconscious
—we do not realize that we are losing our first love—
and little by little, we are far off from Christ. Perhaps
it is a cherished sin which eats out our heart-life. Or
perhaps it is a worldly companionship which draws us
away, loosening the bonds which bound us to Christ.
Sometimes it is an absorbing business which leaves
no room for God. Or it may be the cares of this world
which choke the Word and quench the Spirit. We often
need to have our soul restored, quickened, revived—or
we would never get safely home, through this evil world.

Then, what soul is not sometimes hurt, wounded,
torn—by the wild beasts of temptation? Sin is a
fearful thing. It wounds the soul—and no hand but
Christ's can restore it. But if we put our hurt life
into His hand, He will give healing. What millions
of sin's woundings—has our Good Shepherd cured!

Then, when sorrow has left the heart broken, it is
only the Good Shepherd who can restore it. He is
a most skillful physician. We may put all sorrow's
wounds into His hand. He is most gentle, and His
hand is infinitely skillful. He is a wonderful comforter.
No human hand can heal a heart that is bruised—but
the hand of Jesus has infinite delicacy and skill.

"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up
 their wounds. Psalm 147:3