A Wounded Spirit - Pastor Stacey Shiflett
- Pastor Shiflett
- Oct 5
- 5 min read
A Wounded Spirit
Proverbs 18:14 “The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?”
Intro: Life is filled with trials; both physical and spiritual.
This verse distinguishes between what the body can endure and what the heart cannot.
Many have endured sickness with courage, but very few can endure a crushed and broken inner life.
The greatest danger to a Christian is not external suffering, but internal collapse of the spirit.
A person with a wounded spirit has only a matter of time before they cannot continue.
I. The Sustaining of the Spirit “The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity…”
A strong spirit will help a person through almost anything.
Many sick people endure because of hope, courage, or faith.
NOTE: A strong spirit is greater than a weak body.
Paul in 2 Corinthians 4:16, “Though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.”
ILLUSTRATION: Hebrews 11 – saints endured torture, imprisonment, and trials by faith.
Their spirits lifted them above their physical suffering.
· Nehemiah 8:10, “The joy of the LORD is your strength.”
A merry heart (Proverbs 17:22) brings resilience even in hard times.
· Proverbs 17:22 – “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine:…
II. The Sorrow of the Spirit “…but a wounded spirit who can bear?”
A wounded spirit is almost unbearable.
A wounded spirit will literally turn you to dust.
· Proverbs 17:22 – “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.”
The Causes of a Wounded Spirit:
The causes are too many to list here.
I think it is important to get to the bottom of it.
To learn why your spirit is wounded so you can do something about it.
· Psalm 42:5 “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me?...”
Emotional collapse – grief, rejection, betrayal. (Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemene)
Guilt and shame because of sin – David’s confession in Psalm 32:3–4.
Discouragement/exhaustion – Elijah under the juniper tree (1 Kings 19:4).
Disappointment - Hope deferred is a big reason for a wounded spirit.
· Proverbs 13:12: “Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.”
When hope keeps getting delayed, a person’s spirit can be crushed unless they are anchored in God.
NOTE: A lot of people set themselves up for a wounded spirit by getting their hopes up.
Trust God for the outcome.
The three Hebrew children knew God COULD save them from the fire, but that he MIGHT NOT.
A wounded spirit is heavy.
· “…but a wounded spirit who can bear?”
No medicine can fix it.
No friend can fully understand it.
No wealth or comfort can replace what is broken inside.
A wounded spirit will eat you alive.
· Proverbs 17:22, “…a broken spirit drieth the bones.”
It will affect your health, outlook, and even one’s relationship with God.
III. The Salvation of the Spirit
A wounded spirit and a broken spirit are much the same.
A broken spirit and a broken heart are much the same.
· Proverbs 15:13 “By sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.”
The difference in these are clear in Scripture.
· A wounded spirit is crushed and difficult to endure. Proverbs 18:14
· A broken spirit before God is actually healthy.
It is the attitude of repentance and humility that God honors.
God does not despise a person with a wounded, broken spirit.
· Psalm 51:17 “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.”
A wounded spirit is in desperate need of a moving of God on their behalf.
God is near a person with a wounded spirit.
· Psalm 34:18 “The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.”
Jesus came to “heal the brokenhearted” (Luke 4:18).
· Psalm 147:3, “He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.”
When no one else can bear it with you, the Lord can.
2 Corinthians 1:3–4
· “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”
Let God comfort you so you can use your testimony to help others.
IV. The Securing of the Spirit
There are two biblical outcomes of a broken, wounded spirit.
1. A Harmful Brokenness – sorrow, discouragement, despair.
Leaves a person lifeless, hopeless, and spiritually crippled.
Example: Judas after betraying Christ, his brokenness ended in self-destruction.
2. A Healing Brokenness – humility, contrition, and surrender before God.
This opens the door for healing, forgiveness, and renewal.
Example: David after his sin with Bathsheba, his broken spirit led to restoration (Psalm 51).
You cannot allow yourself to get where nobody can comfort you.
Jacob, after believing Joseph was dead:
· Genesis 37:34–35“And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days. And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted, and he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him.”
Family tried to comfort Jacob, but he refused.
There are sorrows so deep that human words cannot reach them.
Only God Himself can speak peace to such a heart.
There is a serious danger to clinging to grief and hurt.
Jacob’s grief nearly consumed him until he was reunited with Joseph years later.
If unchecked, grief can become despair that blinds us to God’s providence.
How does a person protect their spirit from being seriously wounded?
A. Protect your Heart - Proverbs 4:23
Guard against bitterness, unforgiveness, and sin.
B. Feed on the Word of God
· Jeremiah 15:16 “Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.”
Scripture strengthens the inner man.
C. Walk in the Spirit - Galatians 5:16
Yielding to the Holy Ghost prevents despair.
A Spirit-filled believer does not live in defeat and despair.
They allow God to renew their spirit and keep their mind and heart right.
D. Pray - 1 Peter 5:7
Casting all your care upon him is something that you can only do in prayer.
Don’t carry them alone—God is able.
NOTE: You cannot prevent people and circumstances from hurting you.
You CAN prevent it from defining you and changing you.
Conclusion: The body can endure much if the spirit is strong.
But when the spirit is crushed, no man can bear it alone.
Only Christ can fully restore a wounded spirit.
Are you wounded today?
Come to the One who heals the brokenhearted.