Healing a Broken Heart
Part 2 of a 4 Part Series
Jim Pritchett
Swift Creek Community Church
A few years back, a newspaper in Nashville was doing a series of articles on people who were suffering from a broken heart. They wrote to pastors asking them to consider submitting the names of people they knew who had suffered a broken heart, so they might see about doing some interviews. One perceptive pastor boxed up and mailed them the Nashville telephone directory! He was on target! Just about everyone, sooner or later, will experience a broken heart.
You might have sadness, hurt, or bitter disappointment. You may have been in love, but that love wasn’t returned. You might have been left alone by someone who promised they would never leave. You might have a child that you love more than anything; one that you would sacrifice your own life for; and they have rejected your love and guidance and relationship. You might have a broken heart for someone who has passed on; someone you will never see again this side of heaven. You might even be experiencing a breakdown in your relationship to God because of your broken heart.
Here are some very interesting verses from David, a man who experienced a broken heart on several occasions:
“You would not delight in sacrifice or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” (Psalm 51:16-17)
How about that? When you are at your lowest, when you don’t’ feel worthy of coming into God’s presence, that’s when He’s the most receptive. That’s when He opens up to you, and you can really fellowship with God. I think we should be encouraged by that knowledge.
To help us begin to understand the mind of Jesus about this, I want for us to consider some events that happened, and are recorded in John 11.
As a backdrop, understand that Mary, and her sister Martha, and their brother Lazarus, were beloved best friends of Jesus. When he was in Bethany, theirs was the home he most liked to hang out at. Good times, good food, good friends.
So Lazarus became sick, and they sent for Jesus, because they knew Jesus could heal people. Strangely, Jesus delayed going there for two more days. He said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” (John 11:4) Interesting.
So, two days passed, Lazarus died, and then Jesus made his way to the home of Mary and Martha. He came upon a scene of heartbreak, grief, and mourning. Here is an abbreviated portion of their dialogue:
John 11:33-36 (NIV)
When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. "Where have you laid him?" he asked.
"Come and see, Lord," they replied.
Jesus wept.
Then the Jews said, "See how he loved him!"
John 11:25-27 (NLT)
Jesus told her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die like everyone else, will live again. They are given eternal life for believing in me and will never perish. Do you believe this, Martha?"
"Yes, Lord," she told him. "I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God."
Here are some things we can learn from this chapter. First of all:
• Jesus understands your pain.
Say the shortest verse in the Bible with me. John 11:35 “Jesus wept.” John 11:35. Now you have a Bible verse memorized. That’s the shortest verse in the Bible, but isn’t it full of meaning! Why would the all-powerful, all-knowing God tear up and cry, just like one of us? Because He is your Heavenly Father! He feels the same things you do. Jesus didn’t just shed tears for show. He genuinely felt sorrow, sadness, broken heartedness, over the death of his friend Lazarus; and over the grief being experienced by his friends Mary and Martha. I think also the greater situation that the entire human race experiences hung heavy on his heart. I think Jesus also cried, as he felt the pain and grief of persons, experiencing the end results of our sin and rebellion - death, sickness, broken relationships, and suffering. All of these things together caused Jesus to weep, I believe. No matter what it is, Jesus understands your pain. Understand also -
• Jesus will be with you in your pain.
Too often, when a person feels hurt, when they feel emotional pain, they hole up. Like a wounded animal, we go to our cave and lick our wounds. We feel all alone. We wonder if anyone cares.
Be assured – God knows your situation. He is with you in your pain. Just like he was with Mary and Martha, he will be with you. Open your heart; open your spirit. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.
Here’s an interesting Spiritual Law. It’s taken me many years to begin to grasp it -
• God never wastes a hurt! There is a reason why.
God never wastes a hurt. Jesus could have rushed over to Bethany and healed Lazarus. Lazarus could have been spared from death, and Mary and Martha could have been spared from their grief. It’s not easy to see what Jesus was up to here. Remember what he said. “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” (John 11:4) It appears that Jesus chose not to heal Lazarus, to allow him to go on and die, so that he could demonstrate an even greater power: He had power over death and the grave! With the command, “Lazarus, come out!” (John 11:43) the dead man came out, looking like a mummy. Jesus had to tell them to “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” (They were probably all just standing their, ready to faint!)
There was a reason. Jesus proved that he was not just a physician, a miracle worker, and a teacher. His power was the ultimate power. The people there were definitely convinced, and even today, we are instructed and encouraged. God never wastes a hurt. There is a reason why.
Maybe you have had some deep pain and emotional or even physical hurts. And you wonder why. Sometimes the reasons become clear in time. Sometimes they do not, at least in this life. But knowing the love of Jesus, I have to believe he allows things to happen for a reason, and there will be a greater good accomplished somehow, some way, in God’s plan.
When bad things happen, people usually end up responding in one of two ways. They either move closer to God, or they move further away from God. When Jesus raised Lazarus, many of the people there put their faith in him (11:45). But when you read further on, it says that others decided that it was time for Jesus to go. This just pushed them to the point of finally rejecting Jesus.
Even today, persons have the same decision. Do you look at Jesus in awe, as the Master of Life and Death? Or do you reject him and seek to discredit him. Here’s what the Bible teaches:
• By responding in faith, we join Jesus in overcoming death and pain.
When you place your faith in Jesus Christ, as Forgiver and Leader, you cross from death to life. If you haven’t done this, you can right now. Say “yes.” Invite Him into the center of your life. When you do, you become a Child of God, his, forever. He may allow you to experience some pain. You will experience physical death, unless Jesus returns soon. BUT – the ultimate destiny is eternal life with God in his kingdom. And he will finally do away with death and pain and sickness at that time.
In the meantime, understand –
• God can heal your deepest pain.
God can give physical healing. But more importantly, God can give you emotional healing. Your deepest pain. Your worst hurt. Jesus can take it, and he can replace it with peace. It may happen instantly, when you release it to God. I’ve experienced that with some things myself.
More often, it takes a while for God to give you healing. As you slowly, but surely fill your mind and heart with the Word of God. As you walk with Jesus through the mountains and valleys of life. As you experience the blessing of fellowship with other Believers on this journey together.
Sometimes, a good Christian counselor can be part of the healing process. I have a short list, and I can refer you to one, if there is a need.
God can heal your deepest pain. Jesus is with you. Jesus understands. Jesus has the power to make it happen. Jesus has the love to make it happen. “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise”
Let us pray.
Our broken hearts draw us to you. Meet us in our brokenness. Touch our lives, O God. Give us healing. Give us new life.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
