↓
 
   

He Heals the Brokenhearted

Janis Van Keuren
     “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3 NIV

     The wind was whipping across the dock, chilling me to the bone. I might have been able to ignore the chill and let the warmth within me chase it away if I felt more secure about the situation surrounding me. Worrisome thoughts popped through my mind like kernels in a bag of microwave popcorn. What did this day hold? Would the relationship I cherished be as dear to the one I was meeting as it was to me? Would my heart break again, torn into pieces like the fragile petals of a flower blown by the wind?
     When he arrived, I reached out with love but it was not returned. My practical side took over. Logic gave me reasons to understand this response and how to make it comfortable for the one I longed to see and those around me.
     We had a brief time together over lunch but the air was charged with tension and defensiveness. When we parted, fear took the place of worry. Along with the popping thoughts came the arrows of anxiety to my heart.
     My husband and I returned to our quiet hotel room. Tired from the journey and the stressful morning’s encounter with the one we came so far to see, he flipped on the television until he could fall asleep. I grabbed my Bible and the devotional I had brought along. In there, I found comfort for my grieving heart.
     I looked for a piece that would speak to my pain, and I found the day on grief. Help me, Lord, I thought. This was not how I hoped this day would be.
     Words from the devotional went straight to my hurting heart as I read them again and again and again. In them, the author wrote as if Jesus were speaking to me. He was saying that He knew my pain and that He felt my grief. He knew I had lost a treasure that day, one that was held deeply in my heart. But if I would open my hand that was grasping my heart, He would not only put the pieces back in place but He would restore it as well. I had peace for the evening. The next day, the Lord began to put some pieces together as He brought more warmth and love into that fragile relationship.
     Tonight as I read over this devotional, I am reminded of how involved the Lord is with my life. How much He loves me. How deeply He desires to heal my broken heart. Oh, it’s not whole yet. There are still arrows of anxiety that spear my heart and a grief that overtakes my soul from time to time. But He has touched my heart again.

     Are you grieving or do you feel forsaken? Find your rest in the Lord.

     “I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live…
     “Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.” Psalm 116: 1,2, and 7 NIV

     The devotional I have been using and continuing to devour is “A Taste of Satisfaction” by Kay Harms. “Becoming satisfied with the Bread of Life.”

   From My Heart to Yours,

Linking with Scripture and a Snapshot, Spiritual Sundays, The Sunday Community, Playdates with God, and Solio Deo Gloria

Sundays spent with HIM

Scripture and Snapshot

<$BlogFeedsVertical$>

<$BlogItemFeedLinks$>

Comments

He Heals the Brokenhearted — 32 Comments

  1. Relationships can be so fragile to navigate. May God continue to give you His peace & strength & comfort as you cry out to Him. Thank you for sharing these thoughts. I was your neighbor at Spiritual Sundays.
    Blessings,
    Joanne

  3. I love to be reminded that He hears us when we call. The rejection of love when offered is so so painful. But you have found the Healer. God bless you today.

  5. Oh Janis, relationships can be so painful at times. When we love, we open our heart to hurt. But we keep on loving. How glad I am to read how the Lord comforted you at this time.

    Blessings and love,
    Debbie

    • Debbie~Sometimes the road to keep on loving gets fraught with hurt, pain, and anger. By His grace, we keep on loving. He teaches us in so many ways, especially through others. Glad to have you here, friend.

      Blessings,
      Janis

  6. As I was reading this, I was reminded of my on-again-off-again relationship with my prodigal son. Yes, the Lord is our comfort. (Jumping over from Jumping Tandem)

  7. Oh what joy to see a loved one, even though they are not ready to respond to your love (as yet). I am so thankful that the story is not over and a new day is approaching.

  9. That sounds like a great devotional. I love how the Lord can use timeless truths to heal us in the moment. Reading again and again and again–been there, done that. And will be there again. Blessings.

    • Hazel~Because it is impossible to see God’s work behind the scenes, it’s hard to believe all will turn out well. But I know I must trust Him for faith is the substance of things hoped for. He is at work, Lord help me believe and trust more.

      Blessings,
      Janis

  13. It is so hard to believe sometimes that He can restore and redeem all things because I get blinded by the brokenness. But then, I remember — He who spoke the world into creation can do things beyond my wildest dreams.

  14. Dear Janis
    I am so sorry to hear of all the pain this strained relationship is causing you!? I know this hurts very much. But I think our Lord cherishes relationships even more than we do and I have experienced His healing and restoration in mighty ways once I started praying earnestly for a broken relationship I experienced. It is hard too keep on keeping on trusting Him to restore life to such brokenness, but He does His wonders in His way and time. Praying for you, dear one!
    Much love XX
    Mia

  15. Happens, doesn’t it? I struggle sometimes when a son, daughter, grandkids, etc., that have walked into tough places, by their own choice, and I know much about reality from my background and the possible consequences that would have/could have ended my life IF the Lord had not broken in and through the doors/walls. We must lift these situations up to Him and trust HIM. Nothing else can possibly come to pass for a heavenly reality.

    Thank you.

    • Caryjo~you understand exactly where I am and the conflict before me. I do want a heavenly reality for this situation so I continue to lift it up to the Lord. Thank you for stopping by.
      Blessings,
      Janis

  16. Thank you for this post. I learn from you. You are a precious blessing.

    Let’s remember:‘Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says Yahweh of Armies.

  17. All of your comments have brought such encouragement and peace, as some of you have even traveled the same road I am on now.

    May the Lord bless each of you for your compassion and grace to share with me and be a blessing.

    From My heart to yours,
    Janis

↑