There's a blessing in having a broken heart. I know this may sound strange, but I know it to be true in my own life. In fact, I believe it is true for anyone following the spiritual path. For believers it is important to remember that Christ did not come to remove our brokenness. Anyone who thinks that following Jesus means you'll never cry or experience pain or illness or setbacks and difficulty is dead wrong! For Christ did not come to remove our brokenness but to dwell more fully within it. We are not blessed or broken; we are blessed and broken. Christ came to dwell in our brokenness; to make our broken places his dwelling place. So a broken heart with all of the grief and heaviness that comes with it is an opportunity to sink deeper into Jesus and for Jesus to sink deeper into us. For this I am grateful. Sometimes the only thing that can water the soil of our faith is our tears.
This is what I've been experiencing recently. Facing some heavy disappointment I turned to God in prayer and felt the love and comfort only God can provide. I said "God I lift my broken heart to You" and immediately felt God's response: God's abiding indwelling presence. When I look back over my life I can't imagine how I would have survived if not for God carrying me through the hard times. Over the years I've discovered that a heart that is broken has more room for God to dwell in. A broken heart can be the catalyst for intimacy and drive us straight into the arms of God where we realize everything we need can be found there. It reminds us of our need for God and allows us to rediscover the comfort and encouragement only God can bring. For this I am grateful.
So when you find yourself with a heart that is breaking know that you're in a good place because a heart that can be broken is a heart that can be touched, that can be filled, that can be moved by the suffering of others, by the sound of laughter, by the simple sensation of a gentle passing breeze. A heart that can be broken is the perfect place for God to dwell. We are often ashamed of our brokenness, our weakness, our shortcomings. Not God; for our brokenness is the place where God desires to dwell the most. From God's perspective it's the best room in the house! It's the place that God can mend, heal, restore and cause to expand. You are blessed even in your brokenness so allow God to dwell in your broken places. It will make all the difference. It has for me time and time again and is so even now.
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God". 1 Corinthians 2:3-4
Following the Way,
Kevin
Showing posts with label blessings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blessings. Show all posts
Monday, August 6, 2012
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Meeting God in the Storm
On Sunday, August 28 Boston got a taste of Tropical Storm Irene. I had begun to move from one apartment to another the day before. Yes I know, bad timing! I was at my mom's, sitting in her bed upstairs, listening to the wind howl and the rain beat heavily against the window. It's the same house I grew up in as a child and even in adulthood there is something so comforting about being in my mom's room, wrapped up in her blankets! From time to time I have trouble sleeping. There are some nights like last night when I just lay awake for hours, but EVERY time I visit my mom and sneak off into her room I fall asleep, EVERY single time. I just can't explain it.
Anyway, I was in bed watching TV, so glad to be completely sheltered from the storm when I began to feel the presence of God slip into the room. It was unexpected, but it should not have been. I allowed myself to be still for a moment and became aware of the Presence that had always been there. It happens every time I allow myself to be still. I thought to myself isn't it just like God to show up in the middle of a storm? The wind is raging outside, knocking down tree branches and power lines. The rain is beating against the window as if it really wants to come in and here comes God, quietly, but so surely stepping into the room and meeting me in the middle of the storm. I began to pray and I began to feel that every single storm I've ever experienced in my life would be used by God to bring out something good, that all of the things I've thought of as burdens God would use them to become sources of blessing for me and for others.
This is the God that I know, the God who is not deterred by raging winds and relentless rain. The God who is not deterred by your past. The God who is not deterred by your rage. The God who is not deterred by your unbelief. This God will meet you in the storm, whatever storm you may be experiencing in your life right now. God will meet you there and God will use the very things that came into your life to hurt you to bless you. The God who turns burdens into blessings will meet you in the storm.
And so I say thank you, even for the winds and the rain, even for the challenges and the obstacles, even for the disappointments and the pain. If I had never shed a tear than I would have never discovered the God who turns tears into dancing. And so I say thank you, even for the storm, but most of all for the God who's not afraid to meet me there.
Following the Way,
Kevin
Anyway, I was in bed watching TV, so glad to be completely sheltered from the storm when I began to feel the presence of God slip into the room. It was unexpected, but it should not have been. I allowed myself to be still for a moment and became aware of the Presence that had always been there. It happens every time I allow myself to be still. I thought to myself isn't it just like God to show up in the middle of a storm? The wind is raging outside, knocking down tree branches and power lines. The rain is beating against the window as if it really wants to come in and here comes God, quietly, but so surely stepping into the room and meeting me in the middle of the storm. I began to pray and I began to feel that every single storm I've ever experienced in my life would be used by God to bring out something good, that all of the things I've thought of as burdens God would use them to become sources of blessing for me and for others.
This is the God that I know, the God who is not deterred by raging winds and relentless rain. The God who is not deterred by your past. The God who is not deterred by your rage. The God who is not deterred by your unbelief. This God will meet you in the storm, whatever storm you may be experiencing in your life right now. God will meet you there and God will use the very things that came into your life to hurt you to bless you. The God who turns burdens into blessings will meet you in the storm.
And so I say thank you, even for the winds and the rain, even for the challenges and the obstacles, even for the disappointments and the pain. If I had never shed a tear than I would have never discovered the God who turns tears into dancing. And so I say thank you, even for the storm, but most of all for the God who's not afraid to meet me there.
Following the Way,
Kevin
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Monday, January 3, 2011
More Than Grateful
This Christmas I didn’t need anything waiting for me under the tree because I had already received so much. I experienced the faithfulness of God in such a profound way in 2010. I feel so full right now. I’m so tempted to leap out of my chair and have a praise break right here in the office! GOD IS GOOD!!! This is the cry of my heart right now. In the midst of transition and uncertainty God is good and has proven to me over and over again that He can be trusted.
I just need to publicly thank God for all that I have received in 2010. It was a year of major transition for me and God was there to lead me every step of the way. He never left me alone. When I couldn’t walk he carried me. When I was weak his presence made me strong. When worry began to grip my heart he gave me peace. When friends walked away he brought wonderful people into my life to fill the void. When I needed a new church home he blessed me with an amazing community of faith I am honored to be a part of. When I experienced lack he provided. When I failed he showed me grace. When I fell he showed mercy. When I was hungry and thirsty for something more than this world could provide he filled me with himself and now I am satisfied.
What did I ever do to deserve such love and what can I ever do to repay God for it? I am overwhelmed and I must say thank you. I am more than grateful for God’s abiding indwelling presence. I am more than grateful for this strength and joy that leaps up out of my soul when I need it most. I am more than grateful for this love that cannot be named, that cannot adequately be described or measured that I can feel deep within the marrow of my bones, coursing through my veins, echoing in even the darkest corners of my soul where no one else dare go. I am more than grateful that I have fallen in love with a God who had already fallen in love with me from day one.
It’s too much to take in. I am held by love. I am carried by love. I am drowning in love. I can’t understand it. I can’t explain it. I can’t repay God for it. All I can say is thank you!
It’s too much to take in. I am held by love. I am carried by love. I am drowning in love. I can’t understand it. I can’t explain it. I can’t repay God for it. All I can say is thank you!
Following the Way,
Kevin
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