That's a promise
As a bit of a 50's throwback there is a somewhat unknown song I like dancing to, the lyrics are, "Promises, Promises, Promises, that's all I get from you, I can't believe your promises, they never do come true!"
Promises, promises, promises - Penguins [YouTube - 2:24]
Unlike the words of this song God's promises do, indeed, come true, although at times we can find it so hard to hang on to that assurance. Jesus promises to mend our broken hearts. "The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:18 [NIV]
There are many ways a heart can break – death, divorce, rejection, illness, abuse, sin, injustice, failure – the list goes on. Everyone will experience a broken heart at some time and some may never fully recover. Binding up the broken-hearted is part of being a Christian, yet so often I feel uncomfortable, I want to comfort them, but don't know how. I've walked through some very difficult and painful situations and I'm so grateful for the grace of God – and for the people of God, when I didn't think I could make it, the Lord used men and women with wisdom and maturity to pour His resurrection life back into my heart.
The enemy is the "accuser of the brethren" and when someone falls, he's right there to assure them that God is finished with them! If I'm honest I can be good at adding my penny's worth too! That's why we need to speak encouragement and hope into their lives – telling them they can make it, one step at a time, that we believe in them and that God is not finished with them. One of my favourite sayings is "Fewer people die of a swollen head than a broken heart!"
God always has redemptive purposes – remember Moses and David, most of us would have written them off immediately but as these men saw their sin and repented, God worked with them and loved them right on to fruitful lives as His chosen leaders. God promises us mercy and healing for our broken heart.
Dawn Milward
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