Our God is a healer. He is the “Great Physician,” and this means spiritual and emotional healing, not just physical healing.
“He heals the broken hearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3 (NKJV)
I won’t assume that all of you have suffered through the death of a brother, a brain tumor, cancer, or clinical depression. These are my bag of troubles and woes. However, I am pretty certain everyone has (or will) come to know the pain of heartbreak.
Many different circumstances cause such a malady, but one common side affect is agony. The level of torment will vary, but the discomfort it causes is one we can all relate to, empathize with, and comprehend. Jesus was a man of sorrows and well acquainted with grief. Our God is not without understanding, for surely His heart broke when He witnessed the death of His only begotten Son.
So why? Why must we experience pain and broken hearts? Why would a loving God permit or even cause His beloved children to experience the sorrow of heartache? Could it be because He loves us? Is it possible a broken heart is God’s means to break apart our self-will? A surrender of self would cause a believer to lean all the more on God.
1 Peter 5:7 tell us to cast all of our anxieties and cares to God, for He cares for us. Our heavenly Father wants to take on our worries. In addition, Philippians 4:19 reminds us that God will provide for our every need. He is the “Great Provider.” God wants to furnish us with all we require.
When we are too self-reliant, we take God out of the picture. However, if we are suddenly faced with impossible odds, a cry to the heavens is often our response. Tribulation is one way God gets our attention. Sadly, it takes affliction for many of us to notice Him.
“O Lord my God, I cried out to You,and You healed me.” Psalm 30:2 (NKJV)
So, affliction is allowed to enter our lives, permitting an open door for pain and heartache to pass through. It is only after these “guests” have entered our home that we truly experience the blessing of God’s miraculous healing. The one we love may die, so where is this healing? Why didn’t our beloved recover?
God sees the whole picture at such times and His number one goal is to save souls from eternal damnation. He looks for opportunities to bring all men to their knees, hoping they repent of their evil ways. He wants every one of His children to acknowledge the redemptive power found only through His Son, Jesus Christ.
Therefore, if the one we love must suffer or die, breaking our hearts in the process, God has allowed it for some greater good. One death is able to produce a full harvest of repentant sinners and immeasurable spiritual healing. Is this not what every Christian should long for and desire; Even if it means loss and the pain of a broken heart?
There is a comfort we can cling to regarding such times of suffering. Solace is found in knowing God will faithfully heal all wounds and broken hearts, so long as we let Him. This occurs when we lay down our hardened hearts and feelings of bitterness. Submitted before His sovereignty, we can then ask God to make our hearts once again pliable and useful for HIS purpose. For it is by the stripes Jesus endured on the cross that we are healed.
Our lives are not our own. I will say this again, dear one. Our lives are not our own… they are for the pleasure and glory of God. What He chooses to use us for is His divine right. What He decides to ask of us is appropriate and fitting. His will should be our heart’s desire. Our love for Him should be so great that whatever He requires from us is our good pleasure.
If trust is an issue, will you pray about trusting God with your care once again? Let Him put a balm over your wound or heart-crack. Decide right now to move forward. If grief has bound you in chains break free, for He came to set all captives free. There are joys to be found in the remaining years of your life. There is much joy to be found in service. Use the life He has given you and totally dedicate it for His purpose. He has turned the wailing of many into dancing. Joy WILL come in the morning. There are many new wonders yet to be experienced. Your best day has yet to be lived!
God knows your frame and what you are able to withstand. You are stronger than you think, for God is your strength and He can do all things. Reach out and call upon His grace! Let go of the old and step into the new. It will be hard but it is time! Your Savior will never forget your heartbreak. It has great meaning and value; otherwise it would not have hurt BOTH of you so much. Your broken heart will serve as a lovely stepping-stone into a new and specially designed future.
We were created for service and for the act of worship. God deserves all glory and praise. Living a full life of joy and moving out of the past is a true sacrifice of praise. With each heartbreak there is a healing balm, and with each scar we don there is a badge of honor to be worn throughout eternity.
“Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; Save me, and I shall be saved, for You are my praise.” Jeremiah 17:14 (NKJV)
“But He was wounded for our transgressions,He was bruised for our iniquities;The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,and by His stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5 (NKJV)
Find this devotion in my book FACING ANXIETY: THOUGHTS OF WISDOM, PRAISE, AND PROMISE (The first of December 2014) My other books are now on Amazon at
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Cheryl%20Zelenka&sprefix=Chery%2Caps