After You Have Suffered a While . . .

Mended Hearts

Broken hearts are a common language among women, especially those who have been traumatized or victimized. A victim’s emotional state is very non-stable, and her heart has been broken, as well. The broken heart may be a result of grief over the death of a loved one. It may be broken because her marriage is in sham-bles. Maybe her family has been torn apart. Maybe she ran away from her from fam-ily. Maybe she was a victim of sexual assault. Perhaps she is facing a devastating disease. There are several reasons for a broken heart. Bottom line, her heart is bro-ken.

When I went through the horrendous experience of having to give up custody of my two daughters, my heart felt like it shattered into a thousand pieces at my feet. I was in a tremendous amount of emotional pain. All I was able to do was cry. And weep. And cry some more. My eyes were continually filled with tears. My heart was filled with heaviness-too much heaviness. I continued to carry this burden. Every time I would see a small child or hear their laughter, my heart would crumble again.

I continued to carry and feel the pain, day after day. I looked for someone to care but couldn't find anyone. There were plenty of people to judge me, or to con-demn me, but I couldn't find anyone to give comfort or consolation. I didn't even have permission to cry, because, somehow, the whole ugly mess was my fault. But the tears were like waterworks. When I was alone in the silence I cried. “Suffering in Silence”.

There is a wonderful story in the Bible about a woman whose heart was bro-ken. In the book of I Samuel, found in the Old Testament, we read an account of a lady named Hannah. She was married to a man named Elkanah. They worshipped and served God, according to the law. Hannah, however, could have no children. She was broken-hearted. She went to the temple and poured out her heart and soul to God. God gave her what she longed for. He blessed her with a son named Sam-uel. Hannah knew to turn to the God she served with her broken heart.

In my quiet moments, I, too would turn to God and His Word for comfort. In His Word, I find that He is always watching and listening to me. In Psalms 34:15, the Bible says,

“The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry.” It is so refreshing to know that my Lord is watching over me and listening to my cries. Then, the psalmist goes on to say in verses 17-18,

Verse 17:”The righteous cry and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all of their troubles.

Verse 18:The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit”.

So, as I would cry out to God with my broken heart, His precious Holy Ghost would begin to work. The Spirit would begin ministering to my soul. He would begin to put together the shattered pieces of my heart. He would give comfort as only He can. Then, I would find myself in the arms of my Tender Shepherd-just resting-while my broken heart would begin to mend. Then, I would be reminded of this chorus,

I Know a Man Who Can”

I can’t take a heart that’s broken,

Make it over again,

But I know a Man who can…

So, yes, my dear sister, you may feel as though your heart is broken, shat-tered in a thousand pieces. You may feel as though it will never be put back togeth-er again. But, just give all those broken pieces to the Savior. He will take each piece and lovingly put it back together. Even though you just knew you could never love as you once did, you will be able to love in a greater measure than you ever thought possible.