Shaka ka Senzangakhona was King of the Zulus from 1816 until his assassination in 1828.

Known as Shaka Zulu, he rose from terrible adversity to become a fierce and feared warrior. However, the emotional wounds he received as a child seemed to poison his character and sabotage his reign. As a warrior he was ruthless and exceedingly savage to his enemies. As a king he was equally despotic and cruel to his subjects.

One notable example of his tyranny occurred at the death of his mother, Nandi. The king’s grief was so great that he ordered the deaths of hundreds of mothers. This way the sons would grieve as he did.

Ultimate healing can only be found in God’s loving embrace.

The killing got out of hand. By the end of the day, more than 7,000 people lay dead. His method of easing his own pain was as abusive as his many other actions. Instead of finding solace from heaven or from his elders, he chose to spread his pain to others. Such abusive methods never succeed in bringing lasting relief but rather only spread misery to others.

Human tendency is to spread our pain instead of seeking help for it. This tendency can inflict incalculable suffering on millions of innocents. This tendency is especially true when the hurting person is in a position of leadership. Their unresolved emotional wounds fester, and their only method of coping is to express hatred toward others. They have the mistaken notion that putting others down will somehow lift themselves up.

I believe that much of the hatred in our nation and even our churches springs from such unresolved inner pain. Instead of finding help they allow their pain to mutate them into toxic and abusive leaders. In the end, after leaving a long trail of wounded people in their path, they self-destruct.

Before assuming a leadership role, pain-filled people need to recognize the root of their problem. They need to acknowledge their inner pain. They need to seek help from a counselor or chaplain. Of course, ultimate healing can only be found in the loving embrace of the God who loves us, whose x-ray vision can see and sense our pain. His tender voice and healing-touch can relieve the pain. Only the Lord is capable of removing pain and hatred from our hearts. He alone can replace it with peace and divine love. Only the Lord is capable of removing pain and hatred from our hearts.

At the onset of His ministry, Jesus proclaimed this message from Isaiah the prophet:

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.  He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, …to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair” -Isaiah 61:1-3 (NIV)

That’s the Lord’s mission, to bind up your broken heart and bring healing and joy to your wounded soul. Flee into His arms and find rest in His love. It is a matter of your survival and salvation.

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, into Your loving embrace I flee. Let me find rest and healing in Your arms. Let me, as a little child, drape myself over Your shoulder and experience a peace I have never known before. Amen.