Hope for the Broken

A good friend of mine recently shared about a circumstance, regarding a relationship, that they are going through and how it has created a great burden in their heart. Hearing this caused pain in my own heart, simply because how I care for that person and because I am familiar with the pain they are dealing with.

Being sad is something I have felt several times before, as with most people.

But true heartache? Real pain?
That's a feeling that seriously affects a person.
There have been a few times when I've felt true heart-brokenness and depression.
...And it really hurts.

I've realized that the majority of people have gone through some form of true heart-brokenness.
Whether it's a relationship with another guy/girl that fails,
Or a person's parents are divorced,
Or someone you had a deep friendship with dies,
Or maybe you've been abused or bullied.

The possibilities are endless,
much like the pain, or at least it feels that way.

And honestly, I can't explain why certain things happen. I don't know all the answers; in fact, I know very little. But I do know what the truth of God is. And I know there are so many people, SO many who need to hear it.

Check out these verses, straight from God:

Psalm 34:18
"The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."

Romans 8:28

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

Matthew 5:4
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."

Whatever you may be going through today, I promise that God is with you.
I promise that God has a purpose and a plan.
Trust Him with all you are and He will pull you through.
 How do I know this? Because that's what He did for me, and that's what He does for every child of His. :)

Keep Your Head Up High

Something happened in my life some time ago, where my heart broke and sunk so deep.

Only by God's grace, have I sustained and pushed through.

The pain though - it's a feeling like no other.

It's so hopeless, it's terrifying. How am I ever going to get out of feeling like this?

It feels like there may never be a way out, that you may be stuck there forever.

I will say that I've made a promise to myself to never get into a spot where I may end up feeling this pain again.

In those moments, sometimes I doubted God. I doubted His promises. I doubted that He would really, truly, pull me through. I doubted that He would bring joy back to my life. It's so scary to think that maybe God really doesn't care about you. Because, honestly, I feel that without God, there is no point to life. What would be the point of my life if God wasn't there or didn't care?

It has taken time, but I will say that God is so faithful. God does keep His promises, 100% of the time. God DID pull me through. God DID bring joy back into my life. God really does love and care about me. I let myself think that my pain was bigger than my God, and how wrong I was. So, so very wrong.

Even though the pain was so unbearable at times, ultimately it has drawn me so much closer to Jesus. My life is so much more different now than before the trial God presented me with. My viewpoint in life has dramatically changed. Now, I can't get enough of Jesus (Psalm 42:1-2). I would say that I love Jesus more now than I ever did before. Now I know what true and genuine joy is! I know Jesus is in my life and that He will never leave me. :) I like to think of myself climbing a "spiritual ladder" and ascending greatly now!

My heart breaks though, for those who may not see this or understand it. But if you're hurting, if you doubt God and if He's really there. Let me tell you, HE IS! God is so incredible and wonderful and loving and you can trust Him! You just have to hang on, and He will bring through whatever you're facing. I'm a living example of this! And in the end, it has only made me stronger, it has only made me more in love with Jesus. You will see this too, but you have to keep hanging in there. God will give you the strength that you cannot find in yourself!

"But the needy will not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the afflicted ever perish."
Psalms 9:18

"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we[a]have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."

Romans 5:1-5

"But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him."

Jeremiah 17:7

Are you ready for the test?

The big day has arrived. You're sitting in your chair, and in front of you lies the dreadful exam you've been preparing for. You've studied hard and are sure you know all the material. You're a bit nervous but you feel confidence in the truth you took time to learn. You open the test and suddenly, your mind goes blank. "I have no idea what the answer is!" "This is not like the problems I practiced! It's different!" 

Ever been there? I have! It's a nerve-racking place, isn't it? You thought you knew all the material and told yourself you were ready for the test. But when it came down to it, when you were faced with the challenge, your stability suddenly became weak and crumbled. 

Through recent experiences in my life, that have had an incredible effect on my heart and mind, I've realized that I struggle with this principle so greatly in regards to God.

Have you ever found yourself at a place where you knew the truths of God--in fact, you've heard them time and time again and could easily say that you believe and know them--but when the test came, and you were forced to really live out that faith and believe, you suddenly realized that it's a lot more difficult than you thought?

Believing in Jesus and what He says is one thing.

Following and genuinely trusting in His word is another.

I can say that I know full well the truths of Jesus, but I also admit that sometimes I have trouble actually following and trusting Him that they are all true and that He means them. 

It's a surprising place to find yourself in, when you were so sure of yourself, to then realize how weak you really are. I've come to this understanding in my life over the past couple months. It's very easy to hear the lesson, to hear the truth. Just like they say, it's easy to talk the talk... but to walk the walk? To live out those truths? To pass the test when life throws lemons at you? Can I do that? Can YOU do that?

Technically, as sinners, we are capable of pretty much nothing other than sinning, and ultimately we must depend on Jesus and His profound strength to survive and continue on. But are you willing to rely on Jesus with all that you are? Are you willing to say "Jesus, I trust You, even though I'm scared/confused/frustrated/uncertain/in the dark."?

The one thing about difficulties is that they show true character. They show who you really are and what happens to you and your character when push comes to shove.

Is the hope of Jesus within you today? Can you remember, even in the darkness, that there is light and Jesus will bring you to it, that all you must do is trust in Him?

Perhaps things in life are going fairly well for you, that's great... Remember to praise Jesus! But what about the future? What about when that inevitable difficulty comes to you? Will you push through.... Or will you cave under the weight of uncertainty or of another emotion? We know that this is not God's will for us to carry this burden and in fact it's rather the devil who plants in those thoughts of fear and doubt as shown in Galatians 5..

Galatians 5:7-9

"You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth?  That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. "A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough."

Yesterday I came across some very encouraging verses...

1 Corinthians 15:57-58

"But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."

 James 1:2-4, 12

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,  because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. ..... Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him."

1 Peter 1: 6-7

"In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed."

My challenge for you (and myself): Don't only believe in the truths of Jesus but FOLLOW them, and LIVE them out! If/when troubles in life come your way, do not be like the seed that lands on the rocky soil, and quickly withers. But be strong and courageous in Jesus. Know that there is light, there is hope, there is a future, and whatever you're facing is only a stepping stone to it. Then you may succeed in Christ and get your "A+" on the test! ;)

Hey! Would you cut it out?!

Have you ever done something and someone else tries to tell you to do it another way, because it's apparently "better"? Isn't that a little annoying sometimes? As if your way isn't good enough or something?
 

Yeah. That can be a bit frustrating. 

Now you know how God feels!

Okay, now you may be thinking.. "Wait what? How God feels? What are you talking about?"
 

As followers of Christ, God has a perfect plan for each of our lives. So often, we try planning our own steps, or the way WE want to go, rather than letting it be up to God. We think that we know better, you know, because we're somehow smarter than God, and know ourselves better than God does even though He created us, riiiight? WRONG! Is it coming together now?
 

I bet you can think of a time when you tried to plan things yourself, or figure out a way to force things together rather than letting God do His thing. I know I can!
 

So here's my challenge to you: Stop trying to metal with God's plans! Trust Him because He loves you more than you know, so much that He sent His only son to die for you! Have faith in Him because He is faithful to those who love Him. And be excited, for the Creator of the universe is working in YOUR life, and you never know what amazing things may happen when you leave it up to Him! :)
 

Proverbs 16:9"In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps."
 

Proverbs 19:21"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails."   

Jeremiah 19:11"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."