"Healer of the Broken Hearted "

There was a time in my life when, after a series of heartaches and broken relationships, I was alone and THOUGHT I knew exactly what I wanted out of life. I wanted to be self-sufficient and completely independent. I was tired of all of the hurt and heartache I had experienced. At the time, I didn't realize how bitter and alone I had allowed myself to become. I had become cold and calloused.

I remember a pivotal morning when I went out, coffee in hand, and sat out on the deck as I normally would do. As the sun began to rise on yet another day, casting a warm golden hue across the sky, I sat there thinking about how time was just passing me by. The gentle breeze whispered through the trees and the birds sang their morning songs like always. It was in this moment of tranquility that my mind wandered back to the turbulent chapters of my life, where the shadows of darkness once consumed me. I became tearful and overwhelmed. I was overcome with shame and guilt. I had allowed myself to put up a barrier so great, that even my relationship with God had suffered.

Everything I had experienced in life flashed before me. I had known the pain of abuse most of my life and was way too familiar with the feeling of being trapped in a vicious cycle. That feeling had become so normal that it seemed impossible to break free from. For years, I had been haunted by the ghosts of my past, with scars etched deep within my heart.

Thankfully, amidst the chaos, shattered dreams and broken promises, a beacon of hope had glimmered, reminding me of the love of my Heavenly Father. At that moment, God met me where I was at. In that moment, all I wanted was restoration with my Heavenly Father. I was reminded of God's promise to "never leave me nor forsake me." That morning, I committed to rebuilding my relationship with Christ. With Jesus, I would finally have the freedom and peace that I once had restored, wanting nothing more than to experience the closeness I had experienced in my relationship with Him in the past. It wasn't that I was totally lost, I knew Jesus. I was not applying His Word to my life and had allowed my heart to harden in some areas.

It wasn't long after that encounter that I met Brian, one of the greatest gifts God has ever given me. I remember when I first met him being amazed at the kindness I saw in his eyes and the warmth I heard in his voice. He was so understanding and saw the hurts I carried long before I had the courage to share them. Where I saw kindness in his eyes, he shared that at first, he saw sadness and pain in my eyes. Over time, he was able to see the sadness turn to joy. With each passing day, he chipped away at the walls I had built, until they crumbled and revealed the fragile heart that lay within that I had never let anyone else see.

Together, both of us with bruises from our past, embarked on a journey that demanded courage, patience, and a steadfast belief in the power of God's love for each of us individually, and for us together as a couple. We both recognized that God's master plan was to bring us together, bringing healing and restoration on multiple levels There were moments when lies of the enemy and doubts would creep in, as I kept thinking "This is too good to be true." The enemy would whisper thoughts of the past threatening to undo the work that God was doing. Recognizing that the devil is a liar, God, my rock, my anchor in a stormy sea, reminded me that with HIm, all things are possible!

Now, when I set out on the deck, surrounded by the symphony of nature, I marvel at the gift of resilience God has given me. I have come a long way from the bitterness that once threatened to consume me. I am now walking in a life of total restoration and happiness. This is an ode to the love of my Heavenly Father for knowing exactly who and what I needed!

The hand of God has woven the tapestry of my life, leading me out of darkness and into the light of HIs love. Godly resilience is a term used to describe the ability to remain strong, hopeful, and determined despite difficult and challenging circumstances by staying focused on God. It is the ability to bounce back from adversity, to keep our hearts and minds focused on the things of God, and to be renewed in strength each day through the power of hope in the Lord. When we keep our eyes on God and turn to Him when we are faced with trials, He is going to make a way. His provision will be for whatever you need. It may come in the form of a person that God places in our life, as He did for me. Other ways God may bless us with provision is by giving us rest, providing direction, extending us grace, blessing us with finances, or even granting us the physical strength that is required to stay resilient. If we stay focused on God, He will give us the tools we need not to allow the enemy to draw us away from our Heavenly Father! Isaiah 40:31 tells us that “those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint."

If we are not careful when we are faced with challenges, we can allow our thoughts to take control of our lives, giving way to the enemy to wreak havoc. We are called to take our thoughts captive. 2 Corinthians 10:5, states, "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;" In addition, we are reminded that we are to have the mind of Christ in 1 Corinthians 2:16, wh/ich reads "For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ." In other words, stay positive, keep your mind on Christ, and trust the Lord to give us the provision that we need. This can be difficult at times, especially when we are feeling overwhelmed or discouraged. Deuteronomy 31:6 tells us "Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee." He is always with us, and we can put our faith in Him, knowing that He will never fail us.

We build resilience through the power of prayer, meditating on the Word of God, leaning on the power of the Holy Spirit, and trusting that He has a plan and purpose for our lives. As we look to the Lord for guidance and strength, we can be confident that He is working all things together for our good. Romans 8:28 tells us "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." God is our refuge and our strength (Psalm 46:1). He is the source of our hope providing us with the strength we need to endure any of life’s battles.

Jeremiah 29:11 tells us "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." We can keep our hearts and minds focused on the things of God, trusting that He will help us through even the most challenging times. He promises an expected end because He knows us and He knows what plans He has in store for each and every one of us. Turn to God and build your resilience! As we put our hope in Him, He will renew our strength and give us the provision to face life’s battles with confidence, knowing how the story ends. We Win!! ©Rita Larson 9/29/2023

#GodlyResilience #Restoration #VictoryInChrist #OnWordandUpWord

Song Of The Day: