Sometimes our hearts get to hurting and we don’t know where to turn. When our emotions are bleeding it’s easy to forget we have a Healer. It’s easy to run from the pain. My friend Suzie Eller is here today to remind us that we don’t have to run away. Jesus is inviting us to run to Him. Here’s an excerpt from her new book, The Mended Heart. And… there just might be a way for you to win a copy at the end of this post.
“The Spirit of the Lord is on Me. He has put His hand on Me to preach the Good News to poor people. He has sent Me to heal those with a sad heart. He has sent Me to tell those who are being held that they can go free. He has sent Me to make the blind to see and to free those who are held because of trouble.” Luke 4:18 (NLV)
“Why can’t you get it together?” “If you would just try harder.” Have you heard any of these statements? Maybe you’ve even said them to yourself. Perhaps those who stood on a hot hillside in Nazareth were asking themselves the same questions. Many tried hard to follow all the religious laws, but knew they fell short. Would Jesus give them more rules to follow? Imagine their surprise as Jesus spelled out His personal mission statement: I’ve come to open the eyes of the blind. I’ve come to set the prisoner free. I’ve come with good news for the poor in spirit. I’ve come to heal the brokenhearted. The crowd must have been shocked by His words, for they expected a warrior, not a heart surgeon. Jesus Himself was setting the record straight. He came so that we might be made whole … through Him. For those who had been trying harder, striving more, it was a transforming message. They were accustomed to following rules or meeting expectations of man, rather than resting in the power of their almighty God. When I became a believer, I didn’t understand Jesus’ mission statement. I was dealing with untended brokenness and trying everything to fix myself. When I grasped the power of Luke 4:18, this truth changed me: The power of the cross is not found in what I do, but in what has already been done for me. Jesus didn’t mean for us to do this alone. It’s not our strength or power that will transform us. Yes, we make changes. Yes, we open our broken heart to His tender touch. Yes, we allow Him to move us in uncomfortable directions to discover new paths — and leave old ones behind. But we are in a partnership with God … and He’s bigger. I also discovered I didn’t have to earn God’s love. Maybe, like me, you thought God would love you one day, when you had it all together. Jesus’ mission statement proclaims that He loves us today. With our baggage and hurting hearts. When we grasp that kind of love, it changes us. It compels us to return that love, and to trust Jesus from our hearts. This trust helps us listen for His voice. We sense when He is teaching or redirecting us. We weigh temptation in light of our love for our heavenly Father. This relationship helps us discover our “true selves, [our] child-of-God selves” (John 1:12, The Message). Last, Luke 4:18 reminded me that I didn’t have to run away just because I felt broken. A hurting heart can send us running down paths we may regret, searching for something or someone to ease our pain. Jesus’ mission statement invites us to stop running and rest in Him, expectant that our true selves will emerge with His healing touch. The truth of Luke 4:18 is ours today to hold close, for Jesus came to heal our hurting hearts. Dear Jesus, for the longest time I’ve been concentrating on my efforts, but today I expectantly rest in You. Thank You that the power of the cross is not in what I do, but in what has already been done for me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Isn’t it such a relief to know you don’t need to fix yourself, or earn God’s love or run any more. In fact, the more we don’t do these things, the more we live in Him; the more we build a foundation of rest and trust; the more joy we rediscover in our faith and in our lives. What will you not do today? Click “Share Your Thoughts” below do just that to enter to win one of 5 copies of Suzie’s new book, The Mended Heart. If you are reading this via email, click here to return to my blog and be part of the giveaway. {Your comment has to be left below this post to enter. Thanks!}
Discover more from Renee Swope
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
My husband betrayed me and walked out on 10 years of marriage. Then the debt collectors started calling. The irs seized my refund for his debts he didn’t pay. It has been more than 4 years of trying to recover but I am still battling feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness. I’ve lost nearly everything I owned and have very little income. I could really use a change of heart, because my circumstances aren’t getting better.
I am so glad that you posted this today though I have alot of faith in the Lord sometimes the human in me still needs and worries and feels the emotional side. I have been dealing with brokenness in my heart and I really needed this today. Please enter me in the giveaway. Thank you!
This excerpt broke my heart! Jesus came here for me and for you so that we didn’t have to struggle every day, and yet we struggle on rather than just taking what He offers us…what has already been done for us! I would love to have a copy of this book.
I have been trying to mend my heart from a miscarriage , keep blaming myself if I could have done better with my sugars he/she would be born . Now I have another chance at bringing a new addition to our family n I am so scared , nervous … I think I need encouragement that everything will be ok this time -:) leaving it in gods hands amen
I have suffered from a chronic undiagnosed illness for over a year. I feel like this has caused people who were once my biggest supporters to become distant from me. I am heartbroken and putting all of my extra energy into trying to strengthen those relationships to what they once were but I feel like they aren’t trying or don’t care 🙁 My heart definitely needs some help from the great healer as hes the only one who can do this. I would greatly appreciate winning.
Love what I have read so far.
Thanks for sharing. God is all that can mend our hurts and our brokenness. He gives strength for each day. My son passed away 16 years ago and He still gives me strength for each day. I love to help other moms whose hearts are broken like mine with encouraging words. Blessings on your day 🙂
Looks/sounds like a good book to have! I’ll buy it if I don’t win!
It’s too easy to try and do things on our own and forget Gid is with us, waiting for us to choose to let Him help. Thank you for reminding me how precious it is to have Him on my side and know He is ready to walk with me through whatever this world throws my way!
I have yet to read anything from a P31 writer that didn’t bless me and change me. I’m sure Suzie’s book will be no different. Would love to win a copy.
Pray
This book sounds awesome. I know it would be a good one for me to read and one that would help me a lot.
I have been struggling with a physical and emotional situation for a very long time. I try to come up with ways to fix them and nothing is getting better. I’ve been making a strong effort to stay in God’s word and pray every day and just seek His direction.. I try to focus on what He wants from me and let the rest of it go. But there is this heaviness in my heart that eventually wears me down emotionally and I find myself an emotional mess, unable to sleep and feeling paralyzed and unable to do anything or make any decisions. I am afraid to reach out to anyone because I am embarrassed by my situation. As I am writing this I am actually getting sick to my stomach thinking about all of it. I keep telling myself “Jesus loves me” and wait for these feelings to subside and they will but they always come back and I always end up in the middle of the night crying and searching and waiting for Jesus to pull me out of this pit again.
Hi, Pat. This scripture came to mind as I read your comment:
Matthew 11: 28-30 – (Amplified) – “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden, and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [ I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.] Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls. For My Yoke is wholesome (useful, good – not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing but comfortable, gracious and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne.”
A friend gave me this scripture not too long ago, and suggested I read it daily and memorize it until the truth of this promise gets deep in my heart. Might I suggest you do the same? Jesus’ love for you is great and deep. I struggle with letting things go, too. God is faithful !
this could NOT come at a better time.. im so depressed and selfish and havent slept in 2 months. I keep trying to give it over but my mind wont shut off. I keep trying to do this alone and keep trying to give it over. I need this book to learn what im doing wrong.
This morning has been a tough start, my heart is breaking for my daughter who is caught in the depths of depression and an unhappy marriage. I read your words about Susie Ellers book, ‘The Mended Heart’.. Somehow this has given me hope, that my daughter’s faith might be rekindled and her heart mended. One thing i know for certain , is that I cannot put things right for her, but Jesus can, when she reaches out to Him in her briokeness. I continue to pray and trust this day will come..
Thankyou for the encouragement today.
I will not be defeated by the enemy but go to the One who made me with each problem or challenge I have. Jesus is so faithful!
Thanks for the opportunity to win this awesome book!
I know this all too well. I didn’t pick my path. I was born into it and had to deal with it. After while I thought I was born with issues and from the age of 7 and work on fixing me. After awhile I was digging myself deeper and deeper in a whole o couldn’t get out of. Only thought that popped up was killing myself at the age of 14. Took teacher to take me to his church and his Pastor to come and gave me a word that God tried telling me deliver me from the hell I put myself in trying to fix it. The thought didn’t stop but I was able to run to God for comfort to help me with my issues that lead up to it. I’m not all that I want to be but I better with God then without.
Sorry so long!
Would love to win a copy. Thank you for being faithful!
Sounds like a wonderful book
Would love to read this book. I have The Confident Heart and devotional. My family and I are going through some really rough times and I really need to remember to lay my problems in my faith rather than simply try to fix them on my own. While yes they may fix it is only temporary and then the circle begins again.