Recently, I was opening a tub of ice cream. My grandson requested Blue Bell Pecan Pralines ice cream. (Trust me. Unless you have nut allergies, it is a must try.) Blue Bell comes in round containers, and the lid can be hard to remove. As I moved around the circular top, pulling all along the way, my fingers slipped. The pain was immediate and harsh. I did not realize until later just how bruised I was.

The injury to my pinky was immediate and unexpected. I never saw it coming. I was simply doing life and a hard hit came.

Life has a way of leaving marks on us. Though my bruise was a physical one, bruises in life can come in many ways. The hits can bruise our spirits, our emotions, and our relationships. Open wounds bleed and cause us to seek immediate relief. Bruises are a bit different. We might feel the initial impact, but the wound is below the surface and shows up later.

Bruises are the hidden impact of hard hits. The loss of job is immediate, but the impact can be felt for weeks even months. The loss of a loved one has an initial hit, but the bruising grief can last much after the initial impact. Hurts from fellow believers and Christian leaders can be felt immediately and for an exceedingly long time afterward. There is the disappointment that comes from people we love. There are so many more examples of life’s bruising.

The bruises of life are not always seen by others. We can look perfectly fine on the outside, but underneath, we are tender to the touch.

Apostle Paul shared with us that he had experienced bruises.

^“We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed but not driven to despair. We are hunted down but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.” – 2 Corinthians 4:8-9.

Brother Paul said, “I have been bruised, but it did not destroy me. God brought me through it.”

My finger is slowly healing, and the bruise is beginning to fade. It has not been an overnight thing, but it is slowly healing. I have never once spoken to my finger and said, “Get over the bruise. Straighten up. Get over the pain.” Neither does God speak to our bruises that way.

God is not indifferent to our bruises. Perhaps you are feeling very tender where you have been bruised. God cares very much about those tender places. He was well acquainted with bruising. How do I know this? Here are a few reasons why I know this.

• “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” – Psalm 147:3
• “A bruised reed He will not break.” – Isaiah 42:3
• “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. – Psalm 34:18
• “For I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal, declares the Lord.” – Jeremiah 30:17
• “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you.” – Isaiah 41:10
• “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.” – Psalm 23:4

If you are hurting today, run to God’s presence. You do not need to pretend to be strong for God. Your bruise is not a liability to Him; it is an invitation for His tenderness. You can stop trying to hold yourself together. Let the One who created you hold you instead. God cares about every bruise life has brought you.