This is a Poke Cake, and This is My Heart
This is a poke cake. Doesn’t it look yummy with all the fluffy white Cool Whip on top? It started out as an ordinary white cake mix baked in a 13 x 9 cake pan. I took it out of the oven and let it cool. Then I took this wooden spoon, and with the handle end I poked holes in this cake all the way down to the bottom of the pan, spaced about three inches apart. I prepared a small package of strawberry Jello, and while it was still warm I poured the Jello all over the cake, filling up each hole and covering the top, running down the sides of the pan.
I put this wholly concoction into the refrigerator to cool. After a few hours when the cake was completely cold and the Jello set, I smeared this luscious Cool Whip all over the top. Now I want to share this sweetness with you.
This is my heart. It was born just a regular everyday heart. Life happened along the way, and most of the holes punched into my heart were small and easily healed. Then one day out of the blue, a devastating loss hit my heart with such force that it left gaping holes throughout. I thought my heart would die.
Then Jesus came to me and said, “I understand your broken and battered heart, and I know you can’t fix it. Will you give your heart to me?” Believe me, I tried to fix the holes in my heart on my own, but nothing worked. It grew more painful with each passing day. So I did the only thing I could do. I put my heart into the Savior’s hands.
He took my heart and held it close to His, ever so gently and lovingly. Did the pain in my heart go away instantly? No, and neither did the holes. But gradually over time, as I walked with Jesus, trusting Him and allowing His breath and life-giving words to soak into my heart, the holes began to fill and the pain began to dissipate. Slowly.
Today, I show you my heart. Jesus Christ has filled the holes in my heart with Himself and His precious Word—not only filling the holes, but covering it to overflowing, healing and making it stronger than before. Only He can do that. Then He topped it off with generous doses of joy, life, and purpose. I have plenty to share.
There are many flavors and textures of poke cake, and many variations in toppings. Yours won’t look exactly like mine. Neither will your loss or healing process be identical to mine. However, the all important component in this process is Jesus Christ.
The prophet Jeremiah asked the questions, “Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then is there no healing for the wound of my people?” (Jeremiah 8:22). Balm of Gilead is a very agreeable substance, transparent, sticky, fragrant, and known for its healing qualities. It is also considered one of the names for Jesus Christ.
Perhaps you feel you have more holes than heart. “Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible’” (Matthew 19:26). Ultimately, God desires to turn the greatest tragedy of your life into the greatest blessing for you and others. God truly is our only Hope.
“They [God’s Words] are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb” (Psalm 19:10).