Have you ever been brokenhearted?

Remembering times when our hearts were a jigsaw puzzle missing a piece or Humpty Dumpty who could never be put together again, the pain of a broken heart screams silently in our minds. Hearts are broken every day. Some people seem to face excessive problems, predicaments and pressure that prevent their broken hearts from fully mending before being torn to shreds again. Others appear to have a protective covering shielding their hearts when tragedies and troubles threaten to tear their hearts to pieces.

Whether your heart has been broken one time or a hundred, it hurts!

Hearts are broken when lovers leave, children cry, people perish, sickness settles, fights flare, arguments arise, disease deepens, families fight, rumors rage, covenants crumble, friends forget, spouses separate, wars weaken, goodness goes, sin saturates… while we weep, wait, and wonder where help will come from.

Help is only a prayer away when we stand firm in our faith. The Lord hears when we call on Him. Reading Psalm 34 gives great encouragement and a source of strength. Praising, glorifying and honoring the Lord as David did has proven to be a great blessing even in extremely difficult circumstances. The first three verses instruct us to extol the Lord at all times, keeping praise on our lips through the good and bad times, allowing our souls to boast in the Lord, glorifying Him together with those who are brokenhearted.

David says he sought the Lord and he answered, even delivered him from all his fears. Those who look to the Lord are promised a radiant glow, with faces never covered in shame. David talks about a poor man who called out in distress and the Lord heard him…and saved him from all his troubles. Verses 7-9 revive the cheerleader deep inside my soul, “The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. Taste and see that the Lord is good. Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. Fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing.” What greater comfort could the good Lord give than angels among us, guarding you and me and gearing up for battles with the enemy, battles that go on all the time…in our minds, at home, at school, with friends, in church, anywhere you go.

God promises angels to be with those who fear him. We don’t have to shake in our shoes or dodge thunderbolts; it’s not that type of fear God desires. He wants us to seek him and serve him, respect and revere him, honor him and humble ourselves to him who gave us life — King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He gives us His best, keeps his covenants and promises. The thrill of seeing a radiant rainbow spanning the sky is a reminder, and he longs for a personal, intimate relationship with his children.

Knowing Jesus personally makes your walk through life so much happier, blessed, fulfilling, and easier, especially when you find yourself nursing a broken heart. When others walk away or wonder what to do with you when you can’t seem to fit into the mold the world decides is right for you, when sickness or death turns your world here upside down, when tragedies take away your desire to live, when friends betray you or family misunderstands you, when you seek peace and promise in this world of pollution and pessimism, Jesus will always be right there with you. He doesn’t promise a rose garden and you must face consequences for your choices in life, but he settles in, soothes your broken heart, and helps you get up and go again.

Nothing you have done or said, no sin, no situation is too big or too hurtful for Jesus to take away from your broken heart when you ask him to come in and clean you up, to forgive you and those who have hurt you, or those you have hurt. He will erase it all and promises to forget it. He cleanses your heart so that you can do the same thing — forgive and forget and face tomorrow with a happy heart and wholeness knowing you are headed to heaven.

When I sit in our garden and hear the wind chimes Tim bought for me softly ringing, I close my eyes and try to imagine heaven. So many questions and concerns hover in my heart. Our questioning hearts and heads should forego analytical nit-picking God and His Word and simply trust Him, love Him, adore Him, believe Him, worship and work for Him NOW.

For our Jesus said a place with many mansions is being prepared and He’s coming back to take us there one day. Where is it? When do we go? Will we know one another? Will earth be the new heaven? Who will be there? The most important question is will you, will I, be there?

Feeling oh so close to heaven, I watch our beautiful flowers being watered by God. Rain drops drip from my nose as I close my eyes in thanksgiving and praise. The helper that God promised to send keeps us lifted and loved, while the enemy eagerly waits at every turn, ready to tear us down and break our hearts. His helper, the Holy Spirit, brings such comfort and removes all the confusion and chaos from our hearts. He lives in your heart and guides you every step when you keep your eyes on God. A favorite old hymn helps clarify this message: He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today. He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way...”

He is not confined to one church, one establishment, one nation…He is everywhere! His holy spirit is with us at work, at home, at school, at play, at church. How do we know? We will walk in faith with precious peace and promise in our hearts. If you are living your life in misery, confusion, anger, bitterness, pride, rebellion, apathy, competition, then you should examine your heart and get things right with God. His heart is broken when we, His children, take all the good things he has given us and forget where they came from, leave Him out, curse Him and dishonor His name, stay so busy we have little time to communicate with Him, do great things in His name and take credit, murmur and complain, abuse our temples (bodies) and tempt others to defile theirs, act saintly on Sunday only.

The list of things that we, God’s children, do that breaks His heart is never ending. Are you thinking of times when you were heartbroken?

When God granted Tim the greatest healing of all and took him to heaven, my heart was broken, but not my spirit and my love for my Lord. When I battled cancer only four months later, my heart broke again. What doctors should I go to (he sent the best right here and in Chapel Hill) who would go with me to the doctor (he took care of that with mama #2 and many friends) who would be my caregiver, (He had my son in place at home…(the best nurse in the world), who would run our businesses, (He prepared my son and daughter-in-law who carried on beautifully), would I live or die, (only Jesus had that answer)?

He healed me, and my life will never be the same. I give Him all the glory and honor and will live my life out loud praising Him, preaching, teaching, writing, reading His Word, training up little children in the way they should go, being all that I can be…for JESUS.

He healed me here for a reason. Not a day goes by that I don’t touch my body where he healed me and thank HIM with a heart so full of love and excitement. For when you have stared death in the face, you appreciate each new day in a whole new way. How dangerously we live when He is so good to us and we casually become callous and go back to life as usual. I realize not everyone embraces my passionate plea for people to love one another and love God, to stand up and let your voice be heard, and to put God back in first place. I fear God… not being politically correct and trying to please people…you can’t! I concentrate on pleasing GOD! Those reading this who have been on the receiving end of God’s miraculous mercy, goodness, and grace understand well. Those who have seen the power of answered prayers know who held your hand and healed your heart in your time of need. If you are heartbroken…give your heart to Jesus. Only He can heal your hurt and put all the pieces together again. Amen!