The LORD is near to the heartbroken And He saves those who are crushed in spirit (Psalms 34:18)
Imagine looking into the mirror every day and not liking who you see. Not knowing where to belong and what to do with your heart of stone.
It has been my lot to be chastened by affliction, which has eventually had a softening and subduing influence, removing enmity from my heart, and filling it with compassion and love.
My life of bereavement, pain, and suffering has not been without precious revealings of the presence of our Savior. My eyes have been attracted to the light in the clouds that shine in their beauty above us; and when all has seemed dark, there has been a rift in the clouds, and sunbeams from the throne have dispersed the gloom. Truly, “there is light in every cloud.” As Christians, we expect it.
God doesn’t really want any of us to remain pressed down by sorrow, with sore and breaking hearts. He would have us look up to catch the rainbow of promise, and reflect THAT light from our clouds, from one heart to another heart.
“The measure of Love is to Love without measure”
I have seen how great anxiety and deep depression are followed by long and happy times of fullness and joy.
Violence and destruction, hopelessness, not being good enough, which, like vandals, carve out and burn us, are replaced by salvation and praise deep in our hearts. The Lord becomes the everlasting light in the thick clouds (Exodus 19:9) of this life, and the days of mourning are ended.
We have no further need to fret or to defend ourselves or to answer false accusations. Let us refrain our lips, hold our peace, as Jesus did, and go on doing whatever it is we do know is right and good. God will see to it that our needs are supplied, and that our soul is redeemed.
Do not think that such an experience is too good to last, or so beautiful that it must be impermanent. When once the dawn of perfect surrender and acceptance breaks, there is no sundown, no shadowed sky, no more sorrow or crying, no more heartbreak or hopelessness. The inheritance is forever! The branch is ever green! Truly, Heaven begins on earth.
I often wish I could escape my many troubles, the pain of grief, loss, sorrow, and failure, or even the small daily frustrations that constantly wear me down. But God promises to be “close to the brokenhearted” and to be our source of power, courage, and wisdom, helping us through our problems.
All who recognized and accepted him—all who valued and accepted the character, methods and principles he revealed—he made them children of God, transforming them into like character, practicing God’s methods and principles.(John 1:12, Remedy New Testament)
All who welcome Jesus Christ as Lord of their lives are reborn spiritually, receiving new life from God. Through faith in Christ, this new birth changes us from the inside out—rearranging our attitudes, desires, and motives. Being born makes you physically alive and places you in your parents’ family (John 1:13). Being born of God makes you spiritually alive and puts you in God’s family (John 1:12). Have you asked Christ to make you a new person? This fresh start in life is available to all who believe in Christ.
Piece by piece Jesus will put us together differently. (2 Cor 5:17)
But all who have received Him, to them–that is, to those who trust in His name–He has given the privilege of becoming children of God; (John 1:12, Weymouth)
I am sure now that I had to break completely so that love could make me new. I heard the Voice of Love speak surely to me. “I will make you new” My love will make you whole, People won’t recognize you anymore. You will rise again. Stronger than ever before.”
For anyone who has joined their heart in unity with Christ receives regeneration of character and is created anew to be like Christ. The old selfish character is replaced with the new Christlike character. (2 Cor 5:17, Remedy New Testament)
I have asked Jesus to make me be a brand new person inside my heart. The Holy Spirit has given me new life, a new heart. I am not reformed. I am not rehabilitated. I am not re-educated. But I am re-created. (2 Cor 5:17) A new creation. I live in vital union with Jesus:
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ (2 Cor 10:5, KJV)
Sometimes our Lord chooses to be close to us through another person’s hands.
Another person’s heart.
God’s promise is for you:
“I will give thee people for thy life…” (Isa 43:4).
Its wonderful how God wants to be my friend, leading me
as a Father. (John 1:12)
Thank you, for the time you take to give me joy
every day
Thank you for taking me patiently into your space
to say
Just as I am is how you want me in your world, I
am grateful
I have your arms around me when I am feeling
down or sad
I am happy to be your adopted child, held in your arms
as my Father
I thank you for taking my dark and for making me
feel special
Now I look for a tomorrow in the realms of peace
and trust
In faith and love I wait for our next time together
to say again
Thank you my dear friend for the rainbow you leave in
my heart
to be with you and in your arms of love eternal
for me
Like Paul, I am just a weak human, but now I know I don’t need to use human plans and methods to win my life battles. God’s mighty weapons are available to me as I fight against the devil’s “strongholds.”
(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) (2 Cor 10:4)
The Christian must choose whose methods to use—God’s or the world’s. Paul assures us that God’s mighty weapons—prayer, faith, hope, love, God’s Word, the Holy Spirit—are powerful and effective.
“The LORD will be [our] everlasting light, and [our] days of sadness will be over”…”At the right time…the LORD, will make it happen quickly.” (Isa 60:20-21, GW)
In every horrible scar from my past, I see the place where His light tries to get in. There is truly light in every cloud. In the Christian life we battle against rulers and authorities (the powerful evil forces of fallen angels headed by the devil, who is a vicious fighter, (see 1 Pet 5:8). To withstand their attacks, we must depend on God’s strength and use every piece of his armor. Paul is not only giving this counsel to the church, the body of Christ, but to all individuals within the church. The whole body needs to be armed.
That is why you need to get God’s full armor. Then on the day of evil, you will be able to stand strong. And when you have finished the whole fight, you will still be standing. So stand strong with the belt of truth tied around your waist, and on your chest wear the protection of right living. On your feet wear the Good News of peace to help you stand strong. And also use the shield of faith with which you can stop all the burning arrows that come from the Evil One.
Accept God’s salvation as your helmet. And take the sword of the Spirit—that sword is the teaching of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times. Pray with all kinds of prayers, and ask for everything you need. To do this you must always be ready. Never give up. Always pray for all of God’s people. (Eph 6:13-18, ERV)
Finally, stay strong in your connection and devotion to the Lord and his mighty power. (Eph 6:10, Remedy NT)
Prophecy is speaking, Coming alive. Night, dark and portentous, is enclosing the Christian world. (Rev 3:10) Apostasy from God’s commandments is the terrible evidence of this night. Deep, dark, and apparently impenetrable to our human senses. World Systems that make the truth of God of none effect are cherished by so many, even in the churches of our land. People are aggressively teaching for doctrine the commandments of human masters of FEAR. False Evidence Appearing Real. Their assertions are taken as truth.
Many people have received human-made theories. So the gospel is perverted, and the Scripture misapplied. As in the days of Christ, the light of truth is pushed into the back-ground. Human theories and suppositions are honored before the word of the Lord God of hosts. The truth is counteracted by error. The word of God is wrested, divided, and distorted by higher criticism. Jesus is acknowledged, only to be betrayed by a kiss. Apostasy exists, and will enclose the world till the last. Its hideous character and darkening influence will be seen in the maddening draughts dealt out from Babylon and it’s “wine” that many find so tasty. (Jer 51:7, Rev 14:8)
My friends, the cross has spoken. You are forgiven. You are loved. We NOW live in the morning that sealed the promise of redemption. The peace that passes understanding. Our Lord is risen (Mat 1:21) and Jesus wants you to declare your adoption as The Father’s sons and daughters. Sons and daughters of God! You will rise again. Jesus. Our living Hope. The living Hope that has a name. Immanual. Jesus Christ our living hope. He is there. Wherever you sit in darkness. Jesus the light of the world, will be your light.
In order to realize how great a gift salvation is, we need to remember our former natural, unclean condition. Have you ever felt separate, excluded, hopeless? This message is for you. No one is alienated from Christ’s love or from the body of believers. Or atleast they shouldnt be!
But don’t take any of this for granted. It was only yesterday that [we] outsiders to God’s ways had no idea of any of this, we didn’t know the first thing about the way God works, hadn’t the faintest idea of Christ. We knew nothing of that rich history of God’s covenants and promises in Israel, hadn’t a clue about what God was doing in the world at large. Now because of Christ—dying that death, shedding that blood—you who were once out of it altogether are in on everything. (Eph 2:11-13, Message)
My friends, your unexpected storm has not caught Jesus by surprise. Jesus will carry you. (Isa 46:4) He will never leave you nor forsake you. (Heb 13:5) Jesus is watching over you. Jesus will bring you through. The Garden. The jail. The hammer. The nail. The long night. And then the morning. Jesus is not here. He is risen. And you will rise again too as His adopted child. (2 Pet 3:18. John 1:12) Jesus, as your Friend, will take care of you. No matter how horrible you think you are, Jesus will take your case.
Jesus knows that your broken heart just needs love.
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. (Eph 2:13, NIV)