Today I want us to talk about this subject, most of us have suffered some kind of loss and will in the future as well. Loss of a job, a marriage, a spouse/boyfriend/girlfriend, child, parent, close friend, a dream, health, financial loss or some other emotional trauma, something that has broken your heart
We live in a world of hardship and heartache. People everywhere are experiencing the pain of broken hearts. But there is hope. These Bible verses about the broken-hearted offer comfort and guidance when we feel lost and alone, demonstrating God’s love for those who have suffered loss.
God’s love for people with broken hearts is clearly expressed throughout scripture.
We wonder if God is so loving why doesn’t he prevent our hearts from being broken but we always need to remember we live in a fallen world with fallen people. One of God’s promises is this….
Psalm 71:20,21
You have allowed me to suffer much hardship,
but you will restore me to life again
and lift me up from the depths of the earth.
You will restore me to even greater honor
and comfort me once again.
God always restores when our lives are in His hands. He does allow difficulties to come our way but they are never to cause us to fail just to grow in trust of Him
Romans 5: 1-5
Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. 2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.
3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
Paul is reminding us that God saved us because of his great love and if we can trust him with our eternity, we should be able to trust him that when we walk through the struggles of life that God will work it out for our good! I know some of the difficulties some of you have walked through seems impossible but let me ask you…..When Jesus spoke a hard truth to the people, it divided them and the scripture says many walked with him no more, he then turned to the disciples and said, “will you leave me too?” Peter said where else can we go for the words of eternal life. Transliteration of John 6
This is tough, I know but where else can we go? In our hard times, our times where are hearts are so broken it seems the pieces are too small to even pick up. We must fight our pain to trust the Lord.
Paul’s writing in Romans 5 is a promise that if we remember God has our eternity in His hands, we can trust that he will bless us and honor us as we have fought to trust him. Though it may seem like he failed or is failing us, He will never fail us…Job 42:2
I’m convinced: You can do anything and everything. Nothing and no one can upset your plans.
Another translation puts it this way…God’s plans can not be stopped!
It is so easy to trust God in the good times, anyone can, but you prove you are truly a Christ-follower when the impossible times happen, when there is no parachute to catch us, no way to escape the heartache but we choose to say, “God I don’t get it, do you see the pain I am in?” God says, “I love you, let me take you by the hand, I know you don’t see the hope and glory coming but I will get you there!”
When we become so broken-hearted what can happen is we stop because of the pain, that is ok for a season. The Lord will wrap His arms around us and comfort us until we are ready to move again. It is when some stop and never move again that they feel completely defeated. God wants us to restore us to life and give us honor as we read Psalm 71:21
You will restore me to even greater honor
and comfort me once again.
The Psalmist reminds us that God is near to us when we suffer from depression and despair.
Psalm 34:18
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed
The Lord tells us in Isaiah 41:10 that He will never forsake those who are suffering….
“Do not fear for I am with you; do not be dismayed for I am your God.”
And in Psalm 147:3 He comforts us by saying…
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
These passages show us that even though life might seem too hard to bear on our own strength, God is always there for us, offering His compassion and understanding whatever our circumstances may be. Circumstances rarely determine God’s will, only His Spirit does.
I know when you are in the pain of a broken heart it is hard to feel anything and if you do it is anger, woundedness, fear, loneliness, and frustration. It can feel like the world is collapsing all around you and you are suffocating.
It is hard to trust God because you can feel as if he let you down, He broke His promises to you. You and your spouse were supposed to be together for ever. You had the perfect job and now it’s gone. All your dreams are dashed and you felt they were from the Lord….some even felt God had spoken to them about the spouse, the job, business, dream and it really seems God failed….regarding those this Paul challenged young Timothy about that…
1 Timothy 1:18
This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare
Some times when the Lord gives us a word either through scripture or prophecy God gives it as an encouragement, knowing what is coming so that we will have a word to stand on a fight.
Pain, discouragement, broken-heartedness are things that are all part of life in this broken world….Jesus understood that, the Father saw it and wants his love to pour in and heal us, part of the Holy Spirit’s role in our daily lives is to be the comforter. God is prepared always to help heal our broken hearts. It was part of Jesus’ mission
Isaiah 61:1
“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me,
Because the LORD has anointed Me
To preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
How do we begin to deal with the pain and loss?
God’s love for us is very real and very daily. In His word He also provides examples of how believers can respond when dealing with hurtful situations like job, dream loss or grief due to losing someone close. We are encouraged to seek God in prayer…. James 5:13
Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray.
Surround ourselves with positive people who can help us lift our spirit…Proverbs 17:22
A cheerful disposition is good for your health; gloom and doom leave you bone-tired.
When your heart is broken often you want to be alone, to go into a cave, sometimes it is bad enough that you think if I would die it would be better than enduring this pain. But the Lord brings family and friends around you to help you to gain a “cheerful disposition” To remind you that God will not fail and He desires to heal your broken heart, give you new dreams, help you to trust the Lord that he is not done with you that his plans are still great for you. He knows, understands and feels your suffering. He is there through people that love you, through his Word, in times of prayer and even when you don’t feel Him, he is still there!
I understand the pain of brokenheartedness! I have been there done that got the tee-shirt. But I have also experienced the Lord’s hand on my life, gently, lovingly, with great compassion bring love, life and healing to me.
You may not be in this place right now but sooner or later you will be and will need this encouragement…But if you are in this place you have suffered a job loss, relationship loss, health loss, loss of a dream, or some other emotional loss, come this today and allow someone to pray for you and allow the Lord to start or complete the healing process for you….He desires to heal your broken heart and give you renewed hope!
Here are some verses that I hope will encourage you (for the notes only)
Psalm 34:18
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;
he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.
Psalm 147:3
He heals the brokenhearted
and bandages their wounds.
Lamentations 3:22-24
The faithful love of the LORD never ends!
His mercies never cease.
Great is his faithfulness;
his mercies begin afresh each morning.
I say to myself, “The LORD is my inheritance;
therefore, I will hope in him!”
John 1:5
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give it to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
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.
2 Corinthians 4:8-10
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed, perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.
1 Peter 5:7
Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.