The hurting, broken and disappointed heart often defines us as irreparable to ourselves and to others. It is inevitable that at some point in time we will be hurt by someone, or by circumstances. It is even more damaging to be hurt by someone we have trusted or loved. It is a natural reflex to try to alleviate pain, to repair the damage done to us. For example, some of us console ourselves with food, some with relationships, still others turn to alcohol and drugs to numb the pain that surrounds our heart and mind. We are resourceful beings; there are countless ways we can and will try to ease our pain, and disappointments.
To be “broken” is a state of being separated into parts; shattered, damaged. We have been altered in some way, our lives have been interrupted and filled with obstacles by something or someone. We have been violated by a transgression committed by ourselves, or committed against us. We become weakened, subdued and completely crushed. Our self-evaluation is reduced, disconnected, and incomplete. It is not surprising that we rush to alleviate these feelings, this hopelessness, helplessness, and agony that we suffer. We become like a person who has broken a bone and have not allowed it to mend correctly. A broken bone that is not set back into its proper place will cause the person to be deformed, lame and impeded from normal activity. Just so it is with us. When we do not heal properly the hurts we have suffered we become crippled with bitterness, jealousy, anger, disillusionment, and isolation. A broken bone that has been left unattended and allowed to “heal itself’ will have to be broken again and set straight so that it will heal properly. When left unattended, our pain will seem to dissipate. We won’t seem to notice or be as aware of it, however something or someone will trigger the brokenness once again and you are left trying to deal with the crushing pain and despair.
Just as a physical doctor knows the correct procedures to bring healing to a broken bone, our Heavenly Father, the Great Physician knows how to bring healing to everyone.
Psalms 147:3
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds (curing their pains and their sorrows’.
So often we run to others first, searching for help, but in all honesty no matter how close the relationship they have with you they are truly helpless to fully bring the complete healing you need. No one truly knows or understands you more than our Heavenly Father. Sure, other people can help you, give you advise, love you, and that can begin the healing process, but only God can complete the work.
If we realize that God is able, willing and longs to heal us of our broken hearts, why do we struggle with running to Him first? Why is God our last resort, and not our first solution?
Psalms 34:17-18
“When the righteous cry out for help, the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their distress and troubles. The Lord is close to those who are of a broken heart and saves such as are crushed with sorrow for sin and are humbly and thoroughly penitent”.
I believe there are three things that separate us from our true healing.
- Fear of Rejection
- Shame of Wrong Doing
- Pride
How do we pull down the walls that we ourselves have built around us, a false and unstable form of protection? How do we make those first steps into the Father’s arms to receive the healing that we need?
- FEAR OF REJECTION
First, we must recognize what is separating us from seeking the Father. Is it rejection?
When someone hurts us either intentionally or unintentionally we begin to erect a wall in our heart and mind as a reflexive action to protect ourselves. We make the decision that no one will hurt or make us vulnerable in this area again; doing this will prohibit and impede you from becoming the person that God intends you to be. If you remain in a state of isolation you will never fulfill your purpose or destiny, God never intends a person to be an island, separated and alone. This wall becomes so high and fortified we often cannot penetrate past it ourselves.
We all seek acceptance, we often try to please everyone around us, yet fail to recognize there is One who accepts us just as we are, and in fact knows our true inner being like no one else ever will. We forget that God accepts us WHERE we are, that in any place or situation we find ourselves in He can and will meet us there. We have the concept that we must first become perfect before we can approach Him. We will never in ourselves obtain perfection, it is impossible. But God wants us to call on Him, to rely on Him, and to trust Him with every innermost part of us. He knows every secret part of us, the identity that He gave us individually even before we were born. In our weakest state, He will show Himself strong in us! He is always waiting for us to reach out to Him, and when we do our Heavenly Father will gather us in to His arms of love and hope, to encourage, to strengthen and to heal us completely. He does not set us up for failure, but he is faithful to walk every step alongside us, but to do this we must reach out for Him, allow him to do His work in us. We alone make the decision to submit our being into His care, no one else can do it for us. You need not fear that He will reject your steps toward Him, he is always waiting with outstretched arms.
Jeremiah 29: 11-13
“For I know the thoughts and plans I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome. Then you will call upon Me, and you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear and heed you. The you will seek Me, inquire for, and require Me (as a vital necessity) and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart”.
If we build a wall around our heart to protect us from rejection how will we ever feel the beauty and power of a love that surpasses even our wildest imagination? God commands us to love one another, not because someone deserves our love, not because someone has earned our love, but because God loves us and knows that love covers a multitude of wrongs. Not only the wrongs someone may have subjected you to, but the wrongs you may have inflicted on others yourself, intentionally or unintentionally. None of us are without faults, but if love reigns in us, we will react differently, we will offer forgiveness and in so doing will obtain the mercy of God in our own life.
There are many injustices in this world. There are many evil people who set out to do harm to others, who have no love in them. Revenge will never eradicate suffered wrong, instead it will only escalate more damage not only to the person that revenge is being acted upon, but to yourself as well. God is clear on this, he claims revenge to be His, so it is not our place or position to take it; instead he commands us to love one another.
I think we can all agree that there has not been a person ever that suffered more wrong than Jesus in his life here on earth.
He was ridiculed, betrayed, abandoned even by His own friends. He suffered extreme and brutal physical pain, and in all this he endured with love, because of His love for not only the people of His generation, but for the past generations, and for the future ones as well. He foresaw YOU when he allowed himself to be subjected to the ultimate sacrifice in order that you could be made whole, and liberated from the death of sin. He obtained an eternal position with Him for you, if you but receive it.
John 13:34-35
“I give you a new commandment: that you should love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too should love one another. By this shall all (men) know that you are My disciples, if you have love one another (if you keep on showing love among yourselves)”.
Jesus is often referred to as the “Balm of Gilead”. The region of Gilead was noted for this ointment, a secretion of the balsam tree. The territory where this salve came from (an area north of the Salt (Dead) Sea in the land of Israel) was originally given by God to Manasseh as an inheritance when the children of Israel entered the Promised Land. It was used in various healing mixtures and sold to various countries like Egypt. To reap the benefits of the ointment however, it had to be applied to the infliction. Allow Jesus to soothe, to heal and to restore you by applying His life to yours and receiving the acceptance and healing He so longs to give in the areas that you are trying to hide from. Allow the balm of Gilead to melt away the stony wall that has been erected in your heart. He will restore, mend and soothe your wounded soul.
To Be Continued…‘The Repaired of the Lord (Part 2)‘