“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3
Songs about heartbreak have been popularized by many artists. Throughout the songs, we hear the story of how the heartbreak happened, how the artist feels post-heartbreak, and how they are healing now. While some songs do a beautiful job at articulating the healing process, there are other songs that choose to remain bitter towards the person who broke their heart. Even though it's acceptable and even seen as “cool” by the world’s standard to hold bitterness against someone you used to love, it's not biblical.
Heartbreak hurts, but we must not allow it to turn us into someone we aren't. We do not need to become bitter or resentful of people who used to be in our lives. Holding on to unforgiveness and grudges will only hurt us and impair our healing journey. Heartbreak is bound to happen in various forms and ways, yet we must always conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of Jesus Christ.
If you have recently had a heartbreak, know that my heart goes out to you. Believers across the world also know how you are feeling, as does God. You most likely feel very alone and isolated right now, and all these feelings are valid, but don't let them drown you. They are genuine feelings, yet they are not facts. You are not alone and isolated because God is with you no matter where you are.
When I went through heartbreak, I was the one isolating myself. By doing this, I made myself feel alone. Rather than picking up the phone when someone called, I just allowed myself to sit in my grief. I didn't eat, I didn't sleep—I just survived. Heartbreak has a way of affecting us in ways other things cannot. It has the power to shift our thinking to negativity and push us to our limits.
Most of the time, heartbreak is inflicted on us by someone we love. This could be an ex-boyfriend, a parent, a sibling, or a friend. We often only associate heartbreak with a partner, yet heartbreak can refer to many things. For example, when our mom or dad yells at us when we were just trying our best, it can leave us feeling heartbroken. In the same way, when we tell our siblings how depressed we are feeling and they respond in anger, it can break our hearts.
Once we have faced the pain of heartbreak, we need to give ourselves time to grieve. Don't expect yourself to bounce back after a heartbreak. You need to give yourself time and grace. Just as you wouldn't push somebody to get back to their normal activities after breaking their leg, we don't need to push ourselves after facing a heartbreak. Allow yourself to feel your feelings and also ensure you are giving these feelings over to Jesus. All of the pain and hurt you are feeling can be trusted in the hands of the Lord. He will never make you feel bad for your feelings, nor will He leave you alone in your day of need.
Psalm 147:3 tells us that God heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. No matter the reason behind our heartbreak, we can rest in the promise that God can heal our heartbreak. In addition to healing our heartbreak, He can also bind up our wounds. This personal, delicate truth provides us with comfort and security. God is our caring Father and He wants to see His children prosper. He doesn't want us to suffer through the pains of heartbreak—He wants to heal our wounds.
The good news is that heartbreak is not permanent. The pain hurts now, but it won't last forever. The person who broke your heart might never come back around to say they are sorry and apologize, yet you can still forgive them. Healing cannot be done apart from forgiving the person who hurt you. They probably don't deserve your forgiveness, but neither do we deserve God’s forgiveness (Ephesians 4:32).
Extend Jesus’ love in your actions and choose to forgive. The pain you are feeling now is temporary as there will be brighter days in the future. Brightness and light will once again shine, and you won't feel as brokenhearted anymore. Keep on giving these feelings over to God and being active in prayer. Lean on God and allow Him to heal your wounds and broken heart.
“Dear Lord, my heart has recently been broken and I feel so alone. I thought this person loved me, but now they have proven they don't. Please help me to move forward in the healing process and to stop allowing this heartbreak to control me. Restore life into my soul and heal my wounds. Thank You, Lord, for always being there for me. In Your Name, I pray, Amen.”
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/marietjieopp
Vivian Bricker loves Jesus, studying the Word of God, and helping others in their walk with Christ. She has earned a Bachelor of Arts and Master's degree in Christian Ministry with a deep academic emphasis in theology. Her favorite things to do are spending time with her family and friends, reading, and spending time outside. When she is not writing, she is embarking on other adventures.
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Originally published Friday, 14 June 2024.