A Hymn for Buried Feelings

When following last week's missing submarine tragedy/headline, my mind went to the words of "Rescue the Perishing" so I decided to look the words up.

The third stanza caught my eye, “down in the human heart, crushed by the tempter, feelings lie buried that grace can restore.”

Wow. There are lots of reasons why we humans like to bury our feelings: self-defense, fear, distraction and yes, the tempter himself. But God, our Creator, gave us feelings for a reason.

Our feelings can serve as warning signs of a deeper heart issue and can helps us get back on track with God. Our feelings can help us empathize and care for others better. And our feelings can also warm our hearts to the joy of loving God more and more.

But they require a bit of attention by ourselves and others to be felt easily. Otherwise they get buried. Or as the hymn says, “crushed.”

I love how the stanza proceeds: “touched by a loving heart, wakened by kindness, chords that are broken will vibrate once more.”

God cares about our feelings and He uses us to help others unbury theirs and He uses others to help us unbury ours.

How have you helped unbury someone’s feelings today? Or what buried feelings do you have that you can ask God to restore with His grace?

Rescue the Perishing

by Fanny J. Crosby, 1920-1915

Rescue the perishing,
Care for the dying,
Snatch them in pity from sin and the grave;
Weep o’er the erring one, lift up the fallen,
Tell them of Jesus the mighty to save.

Refrain:
Rescue the perishing,
Care for the dying;
Jesus is merciful,
Jesus will save.

Though they are slighting Him,
Still He is waiting,
Waiting the penitent child to receive;
Plead with them earnestly, plead with them gently;
He will forgive if they only believe. 

Down in the human heart,
Crushed by the tempter,
Feelings lie buried that grace can restore;
Touched by a loving heart, wakened by kindness,
Chords that were broken will vibrate once more. 

Rescue the perishing,
Duty demands it;
Strength for thy labor the Lord will provide;
Back to the narrow way patiently win them;
Tell the poor wanderer a Savior has died.