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!}
What an eye opener.
I will NOT call myself a failure because I have not followed through on something. Again. I WILL continue to get up, to praise God, and to strive to stay in His word.
…what a sweet relief.
Needing to read your book… Recently separated and going through divorce. Broken-hearted.
Thank you for the continued encouragement.
Today I will give my broken heart to God for I believe through him it can be healed.
Beautiful!
It would be a major blessing for me to have a copy of this book. I am finding myself at my lowest point in my life with a heroin addicted son and trying to help care for his 2 children, one who is 2 years old and blind and will never walk or do anything from a medical mistake when he was 6 months old. My heart is broken that my life as well as my child’s and now his children’s are so messed up from his addiction.
Would love to win a copy for my family to read together. Thanks!
After almost 10 years I realized the other day that although my husband left me and hurt me I still love him. I want my heart to heal so that I can move on. I truly feel God does not want me to be alone but I must let go and let my heart heal.
I’m mending from a middle-age broken heart. A place I didn’t expect to be at “again”. From the outside, I smile and my grown children and grandchildren bring me JOY. I go to work every day. I love my aging parents and I go on…Trusting God. Believing He has this. Hoping beyond hope that if I keep trusting, my feelings will catch up. When I saw this posted tonight for The Mended Heart…I knew I would read it. I will see myself in this story and someone else will have understood what my heart feels. Whether I win one of the 5 copies, won’t matter…I’ll still purchase it. If I win, I will share it. My story is someone else’s story and we’ll all continue to get stronger in His strength. Thank you for writing a book I know I will embrace.
I will not tell myself negative lies and believe them.
I would love to win this book, it would be so helpful to me as I can relate to a lot of it and it would help me grow closer to God as well!
My heart needs major mending. Thank you for sharing this post. I believe I would benefit greatly from reading it. I really need to hand everything over to God . . . trust in Him.
I would love to share this book with my daughter, I really think it would minister to her right now.
so needed this word today.
Wow! So much wisdom in just that short
post! Would LOVE to read more!
I could really benefit from this book. I was raised in a church where “works” was expected. There is a freedom in accepting Christ into your heart but sometimes especially when going through a trial I have had a tendency to want to earn my way back both to Christ and the person who may have hurt me.
I am ready to hear the truth of resting in what Christ did for me on the Cross and putting it into action. Thank you.
Just what I need right now.
Emotionally bled out after divorcing and immediately thrown in the thick of transitioning to a single parent household. All facets of my life seemed to be in upheaval. one Prayer, one minute, one day at a time, I journey on in Jesus name with faith as a compass. The road is long and hard but I am strengthened through Christ.
I just said a prayer today for God’s to help me to stop the insanity of my behavior…..which is always trying to fix myself and never feeling good enough. This is a book I would love to have 🙂
I would love to win a copy of the book you are giving away. I was engaged on NYE and by the middle of January he ended it…I’ve been left heartbroken and confused and feeling “not good enough”….and trying to believe that God doesn’t see me the same…despite knowing the true. It’s sometimes easier said than done. Thank you for the timely blog post.
I need this book!
I would love to win this book! Thank you for the chance! It sounds so freeing but it is so hard. I’ve been thru so much and I’m working hard to press into God and change my focus to HIM and not those around me. I look forward to reading it. Thank you for allowing God to work thru you for His glory.
Praying that the five people that need this most will win. I anticipate reading it, rather through winning or buying it and using it as one of the tools on my journey to healing. Thank you for your obedience to write and for the wisdom you share.
It’s a struggle each day, I’m trying to lean on Jesus:). Would love the book!
God Bless
I love to win this book.. It seems as if I am always getting hurt by others and I start to think why what’s wrong with me? Then I start to lose my self esteem. I give everything I have when I love another and usually get taking advantage of.
Always trying to get out of myself and draw closer to God, because he has done it already.
WOW! When I read the first sentence in your email, it touched my heart. Yesterday, the man I thought was going to be my husband and the father to my adopted son (the only “dad” figure he has had in his 6 years of life) told me we were never getting married. He wants to stay in my son’s life, and I understand that, but I am trying to heal my heart enough to allow that.
I so want to read this book, and start mending my heart!!!!
Thank you for this opportunity!!!
I love to win this book.. It seems as if I am always getting hurt by others and I start to think why what’s wrong with me?
After a 2 year journey to learn of God’s love….it is a blessing to think of my own heart that continues to mend from hurts that were inflected for so many years. Daily God continues to encourage the healing…
What will I not do today?
I will not “try to be” loved, but rest in my Savior’s perfect love. I will not strive, but listen and learn from the gentle voice of Jesus.
Such a beautiful post. Thank you for reminding me of Christ’s mission.
I will trust Jesus through the difficlties today. Focus on God and the Blood of Jesus instead of the bad.
Simply wow!
Would love to get this book…I’ll read it and pass it onto a church member!
Sounds. Like a book I really could use right now. Blessings on you and for those that. Read it.
I have been trying to fix myself and running for so long, I don’t know how to stop. Am very intrigued on how this would work.
Would be honored to have a copy of your book. Thank you for this insight.
I would appreciate all the help-advice I can get on this topic. The wear of hurt has lingered too long with me. I never really thought I was running … from hurt, or because of hurt …. but maybe that’s just what I’ve been doing. I don’t know when I’ve ever felt more alone as I have in the past 2-3 years. Separated in my 32 years of marriage (which I’m still hoping for a miracle here), Family in a turmoil. Just seems one thing after another continues. I’ve had so much hurt and aggravation that I really don’t know how to get out of it any more. This is not where I thought I’d be at 52, that’s for sure. I would appreciate prayers from all who will. Thank you …
This sounds like a wonderful book and it needs to be my next read! I am on the mend, for sure. Trying hard to detach from Man and attach to God the Father.
I think this book is going to make a huge impact. So many think they need to get things right in their life, before coming to Jesus. If we were capable of getting our lives straightened out, we wouldn’t need Jesus. Sometimes when I struggle, I will make a statement like “life would be so much easier, if God would just “Zap me” with self control, or patience….or whatever I’m struggling with”. But, the truth is, I wouldn’t grow from him zapping me, or instantly making things better. I grow through relying on him for the strength I need, to get through whatever I’m struggling with. And in that process, you grow so close to him, and there is just an amazing thing that takes place : )
XOXO
I would love to receive one of the copies. I have searched, prayed and asked God to guide me and yet I still have trouble. I know that God has blessed me many times over, but Im still searching to mend a broken heart. Until my heart is mended, I cant move forward…..This book would be a blessing to me…
God is mending my heart again, recovering from divorce for a second time. I would love to win this book. Thank you.
My heart was broken … my confidence shaken … I lived with negative self talk, low self esteem, guilt, fear, worry, and total devastation as my son chose the world of meth. The harder I tried to hold on and “fix” it, the further away he ran. Codependency goes hand in hand with all of my shortcomings, and I lived with a constant dark cloud over my head; UNTIL I did the A Confident Heart online bible study, and it changed my life. This book would be an awesome compliment to A Confident Heart. THANK YOU P31 for your amazing work in my life, and in so many others. I am deeply grateful.
I will try and see and love myself like He does ALLLLLLLLLLL the time! Still so hard for me after all these years. I know it in my head………….should already be in my heart……………..somehow it takes a by-pass and goes somewhere else and never makes it! Would love to win a book. My favorite pastime.Be blessed and may the one He knows needs it most win!
This is one of those message I know in my head that has trouble sinking to my heart. It is slowly working its way there though. Thank you for the reminder.
I am not seeking to change myself, but learning. I am asking God to change me. He is, but I’m stuck in the middle of some of these changes, feeling alone. You say that Jesus touches us, holds us. How? I am so stinking tired of not having physical contact with people! I just need a hug!!!! We need contact with people, it’s scientifically proven, and God did not design us to be alone. I’ve been told I’m pretty, I’m young enough to still have plenty of life left in me. But God keeps people away from me. I pray constantly. I try to invite people over. Nobody ever has time for me. Everyone has families and husbands or their own friends to spend time with. This is soooooo frustrating!! And, even better, the “man of my dreams” got divorced about a year ago, we like each other, but he is also too busy to spend time with me!!! I am trying not to sound shallow or petty, this is not the whole story. I’m just frustrated. Apparently I need this book!! Thanks for listening. *sigh*
This would be great to win.in.this season of my life. My 17 year-old niece took.her own.life and this would be great to share with my sister
i would love this book to do a bible study with it, i think alot of people should hear this
I would love to win a copy if this book. I have been dealing with a tough family problem for over a year now. I need to learn to trust God and let my burden go.
This message was literally a life raft for me today as I was struggling with a relationship. It reminded me God’s best for me IS my child-of-God self. Praises to our blessed Lord.