Finding God’s Hope When Our Hearts Are Broken
We have many battles in life that make us feel broken hearted, sickness, financial insecurity, bad relationships, feeling isolated or loss of a loved one. God knew in our lives we shall experience occasions that will make us feel brokenness. Yahshua (Jesus), while in a synagogue in Nazareth, on Sabbath (Saturday) said He came to heal the brokenhearted, Luke 4:18.
In this topic, I make reference to Jeremiah 29:4,11, which reads as follows :
“This is what the Lord of armies, the God of Israel, says to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon:…..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.” Although, these people were in exile God had a good plan which they were not aware off. They had to go through the experience of being in exile in order to know that God was in charge of their lives.
In recent weeks, some people, where I fellowship have experienced painful challenging issues. In situations like these it’s common to ask, “Why did this happen?” While some questions remain unanswered, God invites us to trust Him. Isaiah 26:3 “You will keep in PERFECT PEACE all who TRUST in You, all whose THOUGHTS are fixed on You”.
When considering challenges that we go through, I thought of seven insights that I want to share with you.
1. Secret Of Unshakable Strength (Job 19:25)
We, sometimes, cannot understand where our strength comes from after going through storms of life. However, studying the word of God helps us restore our strength when we come across people who endured many challenging times. Job, as a servant of God, had experienced losses and painful sores, but he said his redeemer lives. Elsewhere, David had the assurance that God would perfect what concerns him, Psalms 138:8. Imagine what you are experiencing now, God says that His Joy is when you are strong, Nehemiah 8:10. God assured all the Jewish captives in Babylon, in Jeremiah 29:11, that He had good plans for them not for disaster but to give them a hopeful future. All these servants of God and many others make our faith grow stronger and become encouraged.
God knows His plans for us even when we cannot understand them.
- Nothing Happens Outside God’s Knowledge (Matthew 10:29–31)
God being the creator of Heaven and Earth knows everything. This is clearly outlined through the life of Jeremiah, where He tells him that even before he was created in his mother’s womb, He had chosen him. Similarly, whatever happens to all of us, God is well aware.
Even the fate of animals and birds is also in His hands. We read the following concerning sparrows, ‘Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside God’s care. ‘But even the hairs of your head are all counted. So do not FEAR, you are more valuable than a great number of sparrows.’
What you are experiencing cannot be attributed to curses, etc.
- God Walks With Us, Even Through Grief
Let me share a personal testimony regarding passing on of my dear parents:
- In November 1979: My father died at age 61. He was a firm believer in our church. At the time of his death, I was 29 years. My wife and I were blessed with two small children a boy and a girl. During, one Sabbath morning my wife prepared children for church. Then dad’s older brother, his son and a church pastor come very early at our place before we went to church. In a polite way, they requested us to attend fellowship at home, Kirenga. Everything was hidden from us only to be revealed near our home that dad had passed on. It was very devasting seeing his body covered with blocks of ice and wet charcoal for preservation.
My wife and I were, at the time, within our two years of accepting Yahshua into our lives.
- Then in 2018: My wife went to UK for six months to care for my bedridden mother. At the end of six months before expiry of her visa, mum passed on. Message of her death was shared to me on phone, while in Kenya. It was very devasting.
At this time, we had grown spiritually and grace of God continued to sustain us.
Paul in 2 Corinthians 1:4, says that God comforts us every time when faced with challenges, so that when others experience troubles we can empathize with them.
- God Still Has Work For Us
Occasional troubles, that we experience, in life are sometimes training ground for bigger assignments. We see this by looking at the good relationship that existed between Moses and Joshua, as an example. It was not easy for Joshua being left by Moses after his death. In Joshua 1:2, 6, we read God telling him ‘Moses my servant is dead so now arise, cross this Jordan you and all these people….’in verse 6 he is told ‘be strong and courageous for you shall give these people possession of the land’.
God instructed Joshua to move forward courageously.
Similarly, God is encouraging all those experiencing storms of life to seek His help in order to fulfill His mission, for family, society, church, etc.
- 5. God Turns Pain to Purpose
We read how Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers, but God turned his misery into His purpose. When his family members went to Egypt during famine, they found that Joseph had become like a Prime Minister of that country.
This occurrence is summarized in Genesis 50:19–20, ‘Joseph said to them, “don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God turned it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”
When faced with a challenging situation beyond your control, pray to God to reveal His purpose for your troubles. At least Joseph understood that his strugglers were meant to fulfil God’s purpose.
- Forgiveness Even in Suffering
Whenever we connect our sufferings with other people, it becomes very difficult to forgive them, unlike what we read above about Joseph. Forgiveness is an intentional and loving choice to let go a suffering. There are many occasions we read about forgiveness in particular the stoning of Stephen by people, scribes and high priests.
Acts 7:59–60 says ‘They went on stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said, “Lord Yahshua receive my spirit!”, Then he fell on his knees and cried out with a loud voice. “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” Having said this, he fell asleep.
May be someone has caused you great harm, like talking badly about you or regarding you as a failure. Bible in Mathew 6:14, says if you forgive other people for their offences, our Heavenly Father will also forgive you.
Stephen forgave his persecutors. God later transformed Saul, whom we know as Paul, who was in charge of many believers’ persecution into apostle.
7. We Will Never Be Alone
When Yahshua was crucified, we read that His mother, three other women and His beloved disciple John came at His place of crucifixion, John 19:25-27. Prior to His death He left His mother at the care of John from then on. God will always bring support system to His faithful who are challenged.
John 14:26–27; Yahshua promised to give His followers Peace and the gift of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit comforts us and prays for us when we are experiencing challenges beyond our control.
Conclusion
In your afflictions always remember the words of Psalms 23:1-6. David celebrates the protection of the good shepherd, whom in the New Testament we know Him as Yahshua. He promises to lead and offer comfort to us all the time. May we always experience His love, peace and joy that comes from the Holy Spirit. Please check out more uplifting messages in our website https://quietwatersoasis.org/
