When Your Heart Is Breaking

by Tom Norvell
copied from The Daily Encourager - April 9, 2008

Question: "Can you die of a broken heart?"

Answer: "I don't know, but there are times when your heart is breaking that you wish you could die. It would be easier than enduring the pain."

Some hearts break because of unfulfilled love. Some hearts break due to unfulfilled dreams. Some hearts break because of the loss of a child, the loss of a parent, the loss of a friend, or the loss of a mate. Some hearts break when others are hurting and there is nothing that can be done to help them or to ease their pain. Jesus expressed this as described by Matthew, "When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." (9:36)

When your heart is breaking you want help. You long for relief. You long for someone who can fix it. Ron Peltzman's little children's book, "Mr. Bell's Fix It Shop," is the story of Mr. Bell, a man who could fix just about anything, "Even a broken heart."

In Michael Card's song, "I Will Not Walk Away," these words speak the thoughts of a broken heart: "Don't read me pointless poems friend. Don't diagnose. Don't condescend. Though you may be right to disagree. I need someone to weep with me."

When your heart is breaking that is what we want, isn't it? We want to know that someone can fix this. When it cannot be fixed we want to know that someone is there to weep with us. We don't always want explanations, even though we may ask for them. We don't need another book to read, or another
famous quote, or another story that proves "you are not the only one who has ever had a broken heart." We need someone to weep with us. We need someone to comfort us.

Job had that from his three friends... for a while. "Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was." (2:13) Unfortunately for Job, they started talking.

Your heart may be breaking today. You may have spent the night weeping. You may be longing for someone to come sit and weep with you. You may be crying out to the Lord for help because you feel like a sheep without a shepherd.

I do not promise a Mr. Bell who can fix anything. I cannot promise that well-intentioned friends won't share "pointless poems" and useless platitudes. But I do promise that you can cry out to the Lord and that when you cry out you will be heard. And, I promise that the One who hears is close and will provide you the comfort you need.

"The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." (Psalm 34, 17-18, NIV)

"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion - to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor."(Isaiah 61:1-3, NIV)

When your heart is breaking cry out to the One who hears and binds up the brokenhearted. If your heart is breaking cry out to the One who is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

BIBLE STUDY RESPONSES

In response to my request for information about Bible studies that you are doing, I am posting the following. If you are doing a study or would recommend one, please leave a comment. jl

VOICES OF THE FAITHFUL by Beth Moore Experience the power of story with this moving 366-day devotional for men and women from Beth Moore and the International Mission Board. Written by hundreds of missionaries, it features amazing stories of courage, inspiration and God’s faithfulness to draw every tribe and nation unto Himself. Voices of the Faithful is a living testimony of how God’s heart is moved for the lost by the sacrifice, service and intercession of His people. Learn more

Death of a Nation by Ray Stedman (This study is on line, and can be printed in PDF form)
The tragedy of Judah, as it unfolds in the pages of the Book of Jeremiah, is the tragedy of nations today. This Book of Jeremiah, though written thousands of years ago, is still as relevant, up-to-date and pertinent to our day as it was when first written. The tragedy is that when people forsake God they lose the sense of their own worth. Without exception, when someone turns from God he also loses himself. When the people of Judah turned from the living fountain of God they became like animals, Jeremiah said. They began to act brutishly, and thus to hate themselves. This is always the consequence of a heart which rejects or turns from the living God. When you lose God, you no longer can love yourself. And if you cannot love yourself, you cannot love your neighbor. http://www.raystedman.org/jeremiah/index.html

Breaking Free by Beth Moore (The person doing this study is discipling two young ladies, AMEN)

Breaking Free: Making Liberty in Christ a Reality in Life, leads you through a study of the Scriptures to discover the transforming power of Christian freedom. Based on Isaiah 61:1-4, this in-depth study draws parallels between the captive Israelites and today’s believers.

Beth uses Scripture to point out the benefits of our relationship with God and shows you how to remove obstacles that hinder that relationship. As you identify spiritual strongholds in your life, you will progress on the journey toward greater freedom in Christ. http://www.lifewaystores.com/lwstore/product.asp?ISBN=0767391128

Sparkling Gems From the Greek by Rick Renner (When I heard this I thought, WOW, that would be hard, but when I looked at it I really liked it. Also, it can come to you everyday!!!!)
365 Greek Word Studies For Every Day Of The Year To Sharpen Your Understanding Of God's Word (This is in book form, and also daily devotionals can be sent to your email inbox dailygem@ rrmnew.org)

Getting Dusty
A follower of a rabbi's goal in Jesus' day was to walk closely to the teacher to learn all that he had to teach and then do what the teacher taught. Walking so closely to your rabbi in Israel would cause you to get covered in his dust. To be a dusty person today is to be covered in the teaching of God and to live out that teaching in your life.

Join En-Gedi as it seeks to "get dusty" in God's word. Every two weeks a new bible study will be posted on En-Gedi's site to help you learn, love, and live God's teaching. The current series is "Picture This: A Study of Jeremiah"

FAITH SEES THE SAVIOR

April 8th - GRACE FOR THE MOMENT - Volume 1

I stand a few feet from a mirror and see the face of a man (woman) …who failed his/her Maker. Again. I promised I wouldn’t, but I did. I was quiet when I should have been bold. I took a seat when I should have taken a stand.

If this were the first time, it would be different. But it isn’t. How many times can one fall and expect to be caught?

Your eyes look in the mirror and see a sinner, a failure, a promise-breaker. But by faith you look in the mirror and see a robed prodigal bearing the ring of grace on your finger and the kiss of your Father on your face...

Your eyes see your faults. Your faith sees your Savior.

Your eyes see your guilt. Your faith see his blood.

-- When God Whispers Your Name by Max Lucado

Life isn't about waiting till the storm is over...it's about learning to dance in the rain.

I got this note of encouragement last week, and sent it out to several people. I have been amazed at the responses. One comment was, "Too bad we Baptist didn't learn to dance".

So I started thinking. I am from a very legalistic background when it comes to dancing. It was FORBIDDEN!!!! All kinds of dancing. I remember asking my third grade Sunday School teacher why we didn't believe in dancing, and will never forger her answer. She told me the story of Herod giving a banquet and the daughter of his much disputed wife dancing for the guests. Because her dancing pleased Herod, he granted her a wish of anything she wanted. Not knowing what to ask for, she went to her mother who requested the head of John the Baptist on a platter. (Mark 6:14-28) "That", she said, "is why we do not dance". And I believed her with all my heart. Lord knows I didn't want my head cut off.

I never took dance lessons, not did I allow my daughters to do so. I regret that to this day. It was when my children became pre-teens, that I realized how stupid this

"theology" really was. Scriptures tell of David dancing before the Lord, and we discussed in the study about the priests dancing before the Lord during the feasts. How did we miss that???

I did, what many still continue to do today concerning somewhat controversial topics, I took someone's word and didn't study the scripture. I agree that some of the dance movements tend to be a bit "much", but there is nothing more beautiful than interpretive movement or ballet to the music of the believers.

And I absolutely love Israeli music and dance. So, having been freed from this bondage, I decided one night to try some dancing to Jewish music. I was at home alone, had a DVD to learn by, and the perfect time to try it--no one to watch.

I need to explain about the location of my house. A street intersects to the street I live on right in front of my living room window. That means anyone coming to a stop will be looking right into my living area, where this "once forbidden sin" was about to take place.

I was really getting into the step--of course not perfectly. I have 50 plus years to overcome. But I was enjoying myself very much. I was singing, waving my arms, actually moving my feet. I was praising the Lord!! I whirled around, just like the dancers on the DVD were doing, only to face car lights shining right on me. I forgot to close the wooden shutters. I hit the floor, face down. I don't know how long they had been there, but they stayed, what seemed like, a long time. I guess assuming the show was over, they finally decided to leave.

I know that I should have prayed, "Lord, if you won't cut my head off, I promise I won't do this again". But instead I prayed, "Lord, I know those people out there in that car are laughing their heads off, so please, PLEASE don't let them be anyone I know."

That ended my dancing career. I still have my head on--well, somewhat. And so far, no one has told me that they had some free entertainment at my expense.

So much for dancing!!

jl