Tuesday, January 6, 2015

A Changed Heart

I've been trying to decide whether or not to even approach this topic... It's personal, painful, and could easily turn into a long rambling rant about my pain. I've been asking God how I talk about this without making it all about me, in response he whispered, "Make it about me".

Every one has had a broken heart. 

It doesn't just have to be one from a relationship gone bad. A broken heart can be from a huge disappointment, lose of a family member, or your hopes and dreams turned upside down. It's devastating, drastic, real, and often unexpected. And it's something everyone has dealt with. 

It cuts deep, sending our minds into the depths of pain. A searing, aching pain that we can't let go of. It hold us captive by continuously bombarding our mind with memories, flashbacks, and broken dreams. It can make us do ridiculous things; pushing people away when we need them most. It convinces us that keeping our thoughts and brokenness quiet inside our raging minds is a good thing.
Dear you,  
Don't let it overcome you. There will be a day when you look back at all you've lost and realize it was part of His plan for you. Don't lock yourself up waiting for life to start, when it's already spinning around you. You're hurting deeply and removing yourself from everything that once was will only prove to hurt you even more. You have family and friends that understand what you're going through. 
You're not the only one.
There are people all around you hurting, aching, grieving, and they're lost just like you.  Hiding from life isn't the answer, neither are drugs, substance abuse, anger, or revenge.You need to forgive the one that hurt you, and you need to have forgiveness from them as well.  You have been: Forgiven. Chosen. Accepted. Loved by a God so incredible heavens declare His name. Be yourself, hope in God, and keep looking at what's in front of you.  
"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. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 
 
God knew what he was doing when he allowed this to happen, just like he knew what he was doing when he allowed the devil to inflict pain on Job. Think about the story of Job, everything was taken away from him, his family, house, land, livestock, and he was left with his nagging wife. Yet through it all he still proceeded to praise God. 
"The Lord gives and he takes away; blessed be the name of The Lord"- Job 1:21 
Can you imagine what it would be like if instead of wallowing in self pity, pain, and wishing revenge on someone who hurt you; if we looked to the heavens and thanked God.
Let this painful time in your life change you for the better, let it make you stronger when life chucks a basket full of lemons at you. God gave you this life because you were made specifically for it, and he knows you're strong enough to live it. Let go of the pain, don't let it hold you down any longer than it already has. Letting go doesn't mean forgetting everything that happened, it means you accept what happen, and learn from your experiences. Letting go is having the courage to accept change and the strength to keep moving. It's growing up, and finally realizing that you can't hold on to anything that isn't yours. 
Dear one, you're going to make it, I promise. There is an end in sight, let go of the pain and let God lead you. 
"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."~ 1 Thes 5:16-18 
Sincerely,
A girl with a changed heart