Sometimes, despite our fervent prayers, things just don't go the way we think they should. Perhaps we lose our job, or a loved one dies, or we have some other disappointment that shakes our world.
Perhaps we've prayed, and the life outcome is just the opposite of what we asked God for.
Now what?
What do we do with our brokenheartedness?
The first thing we need to do is be honest with ourselves and with our Lord. Tell Him that you are disappointed. Tell Him you are sad, and even tell Him if you are so hurt that you feel anger welling up inside.
Our Lord wants to hear and then He wants to comfort you. Remember that Jesus told us that God does hear the prayers of the brokenhearted:
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. (Matthew 5:3-4)
We must be honest with ourselves. We can't hide our hurt and our pain. We can't tell ourselves "we must be strong." It's the Lord Who will strengthen us! And it is He Who will heal our pain and our brokenheartedness.
It's when we are honest and tell Jesus of our pain and disappointment that He can respond:
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. (Psalm 147:3)
Let us know if you have a request or a praise today, won't you?
I have praise for the Lord.... heaps and heaps of it, for the wonderful workings of His providence in our lives. Over the past 2 years, the Lord led our daughter and son-in-law to buy a house with the intent of converting the lovely basement area to a granny/grampy apartment for us. We sold our house and used the proceeds for the renovations required to turn it into a fully independent apartment. Matt and Becca also generously gave up 2/3 of the garage for a long arm studio so that I could continue my quilting business. The Lord used all of this to enabled me to retire from nursing a year ago,which wouldn't have been possible has we still been living in our house, due to the expenses. His presence has been so apparent through the whole process, which, for the most part, went so smoothly, and we all felt the peace and the rightness of doing this. We have been here for a year now, and we are all enjoying the bonuses of a two generation household. My husband and I are healthy, and able to come and go independently. But, it is wonderful to know, should we later on require help, that the help is right here. I can remember when our daughter was growing up that I would often jokingly say to her "You can move out when you grow up, just not any further than 3 or 4 houses down the street." She would just give me the look that all daughters give their mothers when the mother has said something absolutely insane in their opinion. And yet, here we are, she's grown up, and she's not 3 or 4 houses down the street, but in the same house, and it was her idea! God has been so gracious in his providing, more than we could ever have hoped or wished or ever have even thought to ask for. Praise His name for ever and ever!!
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