Week 1: Silent Seasons
Week 2: Seasons of Blessings
Week 3: Seasons to Stop
Week 4: Seasons of Uncertainty

And now for Week 5: Seasons When You Feel Shattered

 

As a teenage girl I knew what it felt like to feel shattered. On the first day of school, a boy who I really liked, asked me to go to the biggest event of the school year.

One day after lunch, he asked if we could talk. Right there in the middle of the lunch room he ripped out my heart and told me we would have more fun with other people.

What he said was probably true, but truth wrapped up in heartbreak still hurts. Maybe you know what it feels like to be dumped, or maybe your rejection runs much deeper and colder than a high school crush.

We all have seasons when our hearts feel shattered and bruised, broken.

How do you live with purpose when your heart hurts?

1. Learn about forgiveness. Notice I didn’t immediately say, Forgive! Forgiveness is a process. It’s a daily choice not to wish harm, hurt, revenge, or repayment for the harm done to you. It’s a decision to accept the facts and move forward without hard feelings. That’s hard. It really is. When someone hurts you, it’s not easy to just let it go, but we must be willing to learn about forgiveness and then forgive.

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32 (ESV)

2. Follow the Father. When our hearts hurt we often focus on ourselves. We see our problems, our pain, and the way it affects our lives personally. It’s no wonder we get so self absorbed in our own issues. But there’s a better way to live, a purposeful way. When our eyes are on God and His perfection and holiness, we begin to see Him and His purpose instead of our own problems. That’s when we learn to follow Him.

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2 (KJV)

3. Don’t fear the future. Living with purpose is hard when the the beat of hearts is pumping with rejection, and disappointment. We become disillusioned by expectation and desires we want so badly to work out the way we wanted. But when life is broken and heartache snatches away the one thing we thought we wanted, we begin to wonder, “What’s next?” It becomes hard to move forward and fear cripples us.

I love the way the Bible records the account of angels appearing to people. The angels always seem to share the same words, “Fear not or don’t be afraid!” I think our encounters with God are often the same. When my heart is wounded and I go to God for help, the words of the angels resound in my heart, “Fear not!” I love the way God records the verse in Isaiah in regards to fear:

“Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
Isaiah 41:10 (NKJV)

We can live broken lives without living bound by fear. Living broken doesn’t make me terrified, it makes me trust God more.

I don’t know what has happened in your life, but I do know this – we are all broken. We’ve all experienced that feeling I felt in the lunch room of being rejected, unloved, and not quite good enough. But God, in the way that only He can, says,

“I forgive. You should too.”

“Follow Me.”

“Fear Not!”

Living with purpose seems so easy when we break it down. Even in the difficult seasons we can find the purpose we are seeking when we learn to forgive, follow, and stop living in fear.

What is God calling you to do today? Is there someone you must forgive? Or perhaps, it’s time to take a step of faith and follow where God is leading. Or maybe fear has gripped your heart and you’re finally ready to let God form your future.

Whatever God’s purpose is for you, He will make it clear. Don’t miss it! And go ahead. His way is always best.

Let’s live with purpose this week!

Share this with someone you love!

Love & Blessings,

Micah

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