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!}
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My church and esp my pastor broke my heart, accussing me of things I would never even thunk of doing. Its hard when its church people who hurt you. But Jesus was called names, told He had a demon and was asked to leave so I guess I’m in good company.
Maybe this book can help me.I am a Christian and have been since high school. I’ve had my share of ups and downs but something is missing. I look at others and listen to them and they have an excitement about the Lord that I’m missing in my relationship with Him. Where is my joy and hunger for the Lord, His word, my prayer relationship with Him? What’s wrong with me? Thank you for a chance to win a copy of Susie”s new book. Please pray for me.
I do not know how people make it through hard times without God in their lives. He has mended my heart more times than I can count to the point where I seriously trust no one except Him. He is my best friend and I do not know what I would do without Him.
Renee and Suzie, like many others, I try everyday to serve the Lord in all I do…wanting to walk in obedience, following Jesus! Wanting to please God…sometimes not thinking about the fact that it is not about what I do but about what He has done for me! God loves me! He loves me so much that He gave His only Son so that I would have new life in Him. Jesus is my Comforter and Healer! I would love to read this book… thx for the chance!
I cannot begin to tell you what a blessing this book would be. God has brought me through so much. Bit so much healing is needed still. But, I would have to give it to my best friend, who I cannot begin to imagine walking in her shoes of tragic loss the last year and a half. I love her and I want God to mend her and her family. They love you, Heavenly Father. But, they need deep mending. Thank you for the opportunity to enter to win a copy of your book.
We’re in a PARTNERSHIP with God, and He’s bigger! I am not alone. Going through a hard time with elderly parents and my husband’s sore back, likely a herniated disc that will require surgery. To “top it off”, I was called for jury duty. (I’m applying for an exemption on compassionate grounds.) Whatever happens, God is with me.
Your book, Renee, A Confident Heart, opened up my heart a crack for me to receive my Heavenly Father a little more and for that I’m very grateful. Recent events have caused a rift between me, my sister & our dad. So God is taking me through a fresh round of weeding, so to speak. There’s still some deep healing that needs to happen but I trust that He is faithful & will complete the work He started in me. This book sounds awesome & I would love a copy. That you & God Bless you!!
I am learning to depend on God every day! Lots of situations in my life right now that want to draw me down, but I am choosing to not let them pull me down. This sounds like a book I might need to read to truly get that “mended heart”.
Thank you for the opportunity to win a copy of this book! I strive daily for perfection when I know there isn’t any….and the world around me crumbles…yet, Jesus, remains. He’s my grace in a fallen world. In a world, where I want to mend…be mended….wanting to see more of HIM in me, in my walk daily….
I will not keep my mouth shut no more! I will share my testimony and share God’s wonderful amazing blessings He has done in my life. In hopes of leading the lost to the found with the free gift that God gives us.
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.