Nine months.
How did I ever get to NINE MONTHS post heartbreak?
Well, for one - it wasn't easy. There were days (and if I'm being honest, a few weeks) I couldn't get out of bed because of the depression and accompanying thoughts swirling around in my heart and head. It was HARD. I wasn't sure I was going to make it some days. But I kept going and pressing through those dark days.
Second - my little prayer rug. I shared my prayer rug on my Instagram account during this time. I made a home altar - a dedicated space to go prostrate before the Lord with those ugly cries, questions, and even demands. It was so reassuring to have a space I could run to when I needed to pour out all my anguish to God.
Third - Plugging in. God opened doors for me. I got a paid position at my church, which - in turn, led me to meeting my core group of church friends - who provide so much wisdom to me on a weekly (and sometimes daily [thank you Jacque]) basis. I also joined a women's Bible Study at my church, which provided me with a group of ladies I could stand beside and be amazed at each week - their strength, character, and most of all their TALENT just inspired me each week (and still does today).
If I can emerge with beautiful, God-placed scars, you can too.
I read my daily devotional this morning, and it was so powerful and moving to me that I am going to share it in its entirety this am. This is a great study on YouVersion. I want to encourage you to do the plan if you are struggling with heartbreak in your life.
My prayer for myself and each of you reading this right now is that we will all reach the shores of Heaven happy, healthy, and whole. (I'm not sure there is any other way to arrive on the shores of Heaven.) God knows you intimately. God is watching; He is listening. He loves you more than you could ever imagine. If you haven't given your heart to Jesus, today - right now - is the perfect opportunity to come to know Jesus in a personal relationship. He is waiting.
Let Him take the hurt away. Let Him heal you. It IS possible!
I love you. May your Sunday be richly blessed...
* * * * * *
Moving Forward
Let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus… Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV
Imagine you’re running a race with a heavy backpack slung over your shoulders. Performing well in that race would probably be difficult and painful.
Similarly, when you hold onto heartbreak for too long—it weighs you down and prevents you from moving toward what God has called you to do.
It’s not wrong to be heartbroken for a time, but the Bible warns us not to let it overstay its welcome:
There is an occasion for everything, and a time for every activity under heaven … a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance. Ecclesiastes 3:1&4 CSB
There’s a time to hurt, but moving on is necessary for our well-being. It can be challenging, but God has given us several approaches for moving forward:
1. Focus on What’s Good
…Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Philippians 4:8 NLT
One way to approach moving on is to focus on the good. When you make more room for good thoughts, the less room there is for hurtful ones. Challenge yourself to battle negative thoughts or hurtful memories by thanking God for the blessings in your life.
2. Look Forward
Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!
Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV
Unfortunately, what happened in the past will always be there, and we can’t change what’s happened to us. With God’s help though, we can start to move forward from what we’ve lost and focus instead on the healing He wants to bring. If we focus on what He’s doing, we have an opportunity to partner with Him and be a part of the good things He has planned.
3. Rejoice
We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope… Romans 5:3-4 CSB
Moving on gives us a unique opportunity to rejoice—not because we experienced pain, but because we’ve been given a chance to learn. A heartbreaking situation can be one of our most intimate times with God, and when we spend time with God, we learn from Him. We rejoice because with God, we come out of heartbreak with more wisdom.
Healing is a process, but as we move forward from our past hurt, we can count on God being there every step of the way.
Pray:
God, thank You for being near me during my heartbreak, and for helping me bind up my wounds. As I move forward, help me to focus on Your love for me, Your love for others, and the goodness of Your will. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
