Even now as I type these words to you, my heart is heavy with pain. It happens to us all – those moments when someone or some situation crushes our heart and leaves us painfully trying to process what has occurred. The pain is not only difficult to get through, it physically wears us down and the tangible ache of our emblazoned heart can leave us depressed and withdrawn. Unfortunately, heartaches are a part of the process we call “living.” In most cases, there isn’t much we can do about heart breaks except walk through them.
And while misery loves company, very rarely do we take “selfies” of our broken heart, leaving us to think we are the only ones in pain. Yet, we all experience them at some point. Even though time does heal a broken heart, it is best not to offer such words of advice to someone going through it. Time is the last thing on his/her mind.
My sweet husband reminded me as I struggled to comprehend the brokenness, “The best way to heal when someone has broken our heart is to give God all the pieces.”
Mark 14:34, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.”
Jesus’ expressed these words to Peter, James, and John in the Garden of Gethsemane just before His arrest and subsequent crucifixion. He knew what it was like to face the betrayal of someone He loved. He knew the heart wrenching feeling of having to endure injustice, discrimination, hatred, isolation, and fear. And that painful night in the Garden, He wrestled with the reality of heartache.
In order for your heart to hurt, you must know first how to love. A broken heart, whether by your spouse, boyfriend, child, friend, or situation is actually something good. It means you can love and it gives the hope that you will love again. Hardened hearts don’t usually break. Consider yourself fortunate that you are not jaded by the cruelty of the world.
Here are some scriptures which have helped me through the toughest of times.
Psalm 147:3, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”
Matthew 5:4, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”
Romans 15:4, “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.”
John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
There will be times when people let us down. Someone we love hurts us or circumstances leave us breathlessly wondering how we can possibly move forward. Jesus not only knew the pain, He victoriously overcame it – for us. Today, maybe you are grieving. Know that you are not alone, and while you may believe the agony will never cease, trust in Him to carry you through it and turn your brokenness into something really beautiful.
