Helping the Brokenhearted

Chuckle: A child's comment on the Bible: "The epistles were the wives of the apostles."

Quote: “There is no despair so absolute as that which comes with the first moments of our great sorrow, when we have not yet known what it is to have suffered and be healed, to have despaired and recovered hope.” –George Eliot

"He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When others are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us" (2 Corinthians 1:4 NLT). "When others are happy, be happy with them. If they are sad, share their sorrow" (Romans 12:15 NLT).

The dictionary defines "brokenhearted" as "Full of sorrow or despair; very unhappy." When our hearts are broken, it's difficult to think of anyone but ourselves. We are hurting so badly that the plight of others is sometimes obscured by our own pain. But, in my spiritual journey, I have been greatly inspired by godly people who had the strength to be more concerned for others than themselves even in the most heartbreaking circumstances. When we see someone like that, it indicates a level of faith and trust in our Lord that should be the goal of each of us. Even when your heart is breaking, God can use you to help comfort others. Your troubles can give you great understanding and insight into the feelings of others whose hearts are likewise broken.

Once you have taken your broken heart to the Lord and he has given you his peace, comfort, and strength, he definitely wants to use you as a blessing to others. You can encourage others who are brokenhearted by your presence and with words of comfort -- words that will lift up the hurting. God will give you the ability to remain strong and steadfast in your own faith so that the weakened and discouraged will seek your counsel as someone who has gained credibility by overcoming a similar hurt.

"We have been greatly comforted, dear brothers and sisters, in all of our own crushing troubles and suffering, because you have remained strong in your faith" (I Thessalonians 3:7 NLT).

God can heal your brokenness, and his healing will give you an inner peace and cause you to rejoice. As others see God's healing in your life, and your rejoicing, they will rejoice with you. There will never be a time in your Christian life when God cannot use you to bless others if only you can get outside yourself and see those around you who are hurting.

"Faith, like light, should always be simple and unbending; while love, like warmth, should beam forth on every side, and bend to every necessity of our brothers and sisters." --Martin Luther

Love, Jerry & Dotse