If what’s broken is a relationship you care about, or your family is broken, or your heart is broken, your joy is broken, your peace is broken, your trust has been broken and your loyalty has been broken; unfortunately, all the “joy to the world” around you seems to make the hurt even worse! And often, during the Christmas Season and before we can get into the New Year, it tends to bring painful reminders of the things and people that have hurt us the most and broken us to pieces! A mother who walked away and never came back; a father who passed away; a marriage that ended; a child that left home; a doctor’s sad report; the loss of a job after 20 years; the senseless loss of a friend’s life; a relationship that is beyond repair and the list could go on forever.
Well, you need to know that the One whose ‘birthday’ we celebrated a few days ago knows about what is broken, and He knows how much it is hurting you. He cares about that pain, He cares about your loneliness, and more importantly, He understands!
Remember, this Jesus who we celebrated this Christmas was, in the words of the Bible, a “man of sorrows and familiar with suffering” (Isaiah 53:3). The Amplified Bible says it like this: “He was despised and rejected and forsaken by men, a Man of sorrows and pains, and acquainted with grief and sickness; and like One from Whom men hide their faces He was despised, and we did not appreciate His worth or have any esteem for Him.” (AMP) The Contemporary English Bible says it like this: “He was hated and rejected; his life was filled with sorrow and terrible suffering. No one wanted to look at him. We despised him and said, “He is a nobody!” (CEB)
JESUS was misunderstood, despised, rejected, forsaken, hated, filled with sorrows, pain, grief, sickness, and terrible suffering, abandoned, betrayed, falsely accused, and even mocked, spat upon, pierced, and put to death! So, in case you feel as if no one knows how you feel; no one can identify with your brokenness, rest assured, JESUS KNOWS, JESUS CARES, AND JESUS UNDERSTANDS!
While everyone around you may be celebrating and unaware of how you are hurting, please know that Jesus is moving close to you today, and He wants to do something compelling for you. And That’s To Heal What’s Broken!
I know this may sound like a depressing devotional instead of inspirational reading, however, unbelievably, far too many were dreading this Christmas! The truth is, someone, somewhere, cried this Christmas, was alone this Christmas, felt left, rejected, and abandoned this Christmas. Someone committed suicide this Christmas. Someone gave up on life for good this Christmas. Someone, somewhere, is wondering, “what did I have to celebrate this Christmas? he left me…she doesn’t love me…he died…she’s sick…what could I possibly have to celebrate?”
That is why I think He has led me to remind someone today: “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18).
For further encouragement, let us look at that same Scripture in various translations:
“The Lord is near to those who are discouraged; he saves those who have lost all hope.” (GNT).
“The Lord is there to rescue all who are discouraged and have given up hope.” (CEV).
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted, and he saves those whose spirits have been crushed.” (NCV).
However, my favorite is: “If your heart is broken, you’ll find God right there; if you’re kicked in the gut, he’ll help you catch your breath.” (MSG)
In your brokenness is where you will find God right there! Now that’s encouragement! Because most people do not want to be around someone who is broken. Why? Because they know it will only be a time of tears, complaining, sob stories, self-pity parties, a retelling of the same hurtful scripts repeatedly. They know it will be a time spent in sorrow, pain, regret, hurt, rejection, and ‘why me? Chants. Who wants to hang around that, especially during the holidays? But Jesus is a friend that sticks closer than a brother! He could care less about any of that. He is not leaving your side, nor is He turning a deaf ear to you, nor will He leave you there broken. He is the mender of broken hearts! So, wherever you find yourself broken today, know that Jesus is Right There, even if no one else is! You, my friend, are on the verge of being mended!
The second part of that says this: “…if you’re kicked in the gut, he’ll help you catch your breath.” The truth is, life can hit you so hard it makes you double over in pain, with the breath knocked right out of you! But isn’t it incredible how God is ever-present to give you your second wind?! The term ‘second wind’ has a few definitions, but the one I will use here is “a new strength or energy to continue something that is an effort.’ When God gives you a second wind, it is ‘new strength and energy to continue something that is an effort.’ And let us be honest, trying to recover from brokenness takes effort! Pain and hurt have a way of weakening you to such a state that if God does not supply the strength, you will never bounce back! Therefore, sharing our weakness with God and waiting on His power is so vital! 2 Corinthians 12:9, “but He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you [My lovingkindness and My mercy are more than enough—always available—regardless of the situation]; for [My] power is being perfected [and is completed and shows itself most effectively] in [your] weakness.” Therefore, I will even more gladly boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ [may completely enfold me and] may dwell in me.” (AMP) See, your weakness cannot destroy His strength; in fact, it is what supplies it to you and for you! So be encouraged today; God is Right There, and He’s Supplying You With Strength and a Second Wind, You Shall Recover, You Shall Bounce Back, You Shall Heal!
JESUS LOVES YOU; HE CARES THAT YOU’RE HURTING; HE’S THERE AND WANTS TO HELP HEAL YOUR BROKENNESS…ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS…LET HIM!
“Now that we know what we have—Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God—let us not let it slip through our fingers. We do not have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He has been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So, let us walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, ACCEPT THE HELP” (Hebrews 4:14-16 MSG). The word ‘accept’ is defined as ‘to agree to receive or undertake something offered or proposed; to regard favorably or with approval.’ Its Latin origin ‘acceptare,’ from ‘capere,’ means ‘to take.’ So, it is not that God has not offered His help; the problem is we have not accepted it! This makes absolutely no sense since the word itself means ‘to take! Therefore, today, Take the help God offers to heal you and help you mend every broken area of your life. Do not focus so much on your hurt that you lose Sight of His Help!
In Isaiah 61:1, the Son of God says, “The Lord has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted.” The Amplified Bible says it like this: “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed and qualified me to preach the Gospel of good tidings to the meek, the poor, and afflicted; He has sent me to bind up and heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the [physical and spiritual] captives and the opening of the prison and of the eyes to those who are bound.”
HE IS THE FIXER OF BROKEN HEARTS, BROKEN LIVES, AND BROKEN PEOPLE! How do I know? THE WORD OF GOD SAID SO, AND THE WORD OF GOD CAN’T LIE!
If You Are Battling With Brokenness, Lean On The One Who Has Been Charged To Bind Up The Brokenhearted. His Names Is JESUS! He Can, And He Will Bind The Broken. So Be Healed Today, Be Well, Be Happy Today, Be Made Whole Today! He Is The Fixer Of Brokenness.
Just Trust Him and Accept His Help to Heal!
Let Him Mend You and Make You Whole Again! Isn’t that a part of the reason we celebrate Him this Season? The Son of God Coming to Seek and Save; Heal and Deliver? This season is the celebration of the ONLY ONE who Sacrificed His life so He could grant us Eternal Life. Surely LIFE that gives an ETERNAL GIFT means more than standing in LINES that present only a TEMPORARY ONE?! It is a time to remember the Christ Who Was Broken to Mend the Broken.
Psalm 147:3, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds [healing their pain and comforting their sorrow].” (AMP) I know what happened may have broken your heart, but do not let it stop it from beating! God is there ready and willing to heal the brokenhearted and to bind up their wounds; to heal their pain and comfort their sorrow, so why suffer in silence, when His arms are open wide; His eyes are focused on you; His ears are open to your voice; His heart is filled with unconditional love for you, and He cannot wait to heal every ounce of your brokenness!
Remember: No Matter What Is Broken, Where It Broke, How Long and How Bad It Has Been Broken, Why It Broke, When It Broke or Who Broke It. He Can, and He Will Bind the Broken. Just Trust Him and Accept His Help to Heal!
Remember He Came to Save, and that Includes Saving You from Suffering the Pain of Remaining Broken! So be Healed Today, Be Well, Be Happy Today, Be Made Whole Today!
“Christianity is the only hope for this broken world because there’s no other way for the broken to get the nails they need to rebuild.” (Author Unknown)
“Jesus came to heal everything in your life that’s broken and to restore everything the enemy has taken.” (Joyce Meyer)
“Broken things and broken people are the results of sin. Yet God sent His Son to be broken that we might be healed.” (Author Unknown)
“Lord, enlighten what’s dark in me; strengthen what’s weak in me; mend what’s broken in me; bind what’s bruised in me; heal what’s sick in me and lastly revive whatever peace and love has died in me.” (Author Unknown)
“God can heal a broken heart. But you need to give Him all the pieces.” (Author Unknown)
“God uses broken things. It takes broken soil to produce a crop, broken clouds to give rain, broken grain to give bread, broken bread to give strength. It is the broken alabaster box that gives forth perfume. It is Peter, weeping bitterly, who returns to greater power than ever.” (Vance Havner)
“It so much easier to let God heal your broken heart than trying to do it in your ability and strength. It is not your job. Jesus is the healer of broken hearts.” (Author Unknown)
“God’s Healing Hand: If you have a mountain of pain before you or you’re lost in a cold valley of shadowy doubt, know that God’s healing hand is there to mend your broken heart and an angel’s smile is always looking over your shoulder to guide you with heavenly hope” (Robert Clancy)
“God knows the burdens you carry and the tears you shed. He is the healer of broken hearts, broken dreams, and broken lives. Trust Him. He never fails.” (Pastor John Hagee)
“Note to Self: Healing is NOT an overnight process. It takes time. Sometimes you will feel like you are finally over something and happy again, and then unexpectedly, the wound will reopen. But do not give up, and do not get discouraged. Take each day one step at a time. Just try to be in a better place mentally and emotionally than you were yesterday.” (Author Unknown)
Blessings
J.P. Olson
https://www.thewordwithjpolson.com
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