“A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory.” —Matthew 12:20 (ESV)
This verse might not hit you at first. But sit with it long enough, and it starts to feel like shelter, protection for the vulnerable.
A bruised reed is something already fragile in an even more fragile state—damaged, bent, barely upright. A smoldering wick is not giving light, just smoke. It is what remains after the flame has almost died. Together, these images speak of people on the verge of collapse. The worn down. The wounded. The ones hardly hanging on—emotionally, spiritually, or physically. The barely believing.
And what does Jesus do with them?
He does not break the bruised. He does not snuff out someone almost extinguished. He does not give up or turn away. He leans in. He shelters the little that remains. He treats weakness with gentleness, and failure with mercy.
But Jesus is not only compassionate, He is victorious. He does not merely preserve what is weak. He brings about what is right. He makes wrong things right. His justice is not destructive, it is restorative.
You can see it all through His life. He welcomes children and dines with outcasts. He forgives sinners and heals the sick. He protects the vulnerable, then calls them to walk in freedom. Every act of mercy was also an act of justice, restoring what sin and suffering had stolen.
So, if today you feel like a bruised reed or a smoldering wick, remember this: Jesus will not break you. He will not snuff you out. His gentleness is your refuge, and His victory is your hope.
Jesus is characterized by both mercy and a steadfast commitment to bring about God’s righteous purposes on earth. He will hold onto you graciously and take you from death to life. Let Him love you by trusting in Him.