The Wounded Heart

I have encountered many people in the past few days with wounded hearts. Some feel unloved and unwanted. Others have had the rug snatched out from under them. A few are beaten up by careless and thoughtless words. The old childhood saying is not true, “Sticks and stones can break my bones but words will never hurt me.”

Many are walking around the community with wounded hearts. Children get wounded by parents and caregivers. These are supposed to be the people who love, nurture and protect. At times these very people do not encourage the child but constantly point out their faults. That child will carry those wounds on into adulthood and likely into marriage and parenting. If they do not find healing and wholeness they will likely pass on those same wounds to their own children. The cycle keeps repeating itself.

Many spouses endure loveless marriages where love is not expressed and respect is not given. Harsh words, critical looks, and cruel treatment are endured. Many cry silent tears nobody but God sees. They wonder what happened between standing before the preacher saying, “I do,” and the wounded heart they live with.

Widowers and widows endure the lingering days of loneliness with holes in their hearts where the love of their lives used to fill that hole. Day in and day out they try to get on with life but at times the grief overwhelms them as they sink in a puddle of tears. Nobody seems to care or remembers. While life moves on these wounded hearts are stuck in the rut of grief they cannot get out of.

Critical people verbally assassinate others constantly. If you serve in a high profile job and you happen to be the target of their venom more wounds occur. School administrators, teachers, coaches, ministers, politicians and bosses all get their share of undeserved criticism from time to time. While they press on at work the wounds are deep. Many of these wounded hearts begin to feel like nobody can be trusted. They retreat into a private world insulated from those that can cause further damage.

There are even some that feel wounded, betrayed, and abandoned by God. Questions abound such as: “Why?” “How could you have let this happen?” “What have I done to deserve this?” “Do you not care?” “Why don’t you do something?”

Some hearts are wounded because they have been betrayed. Love and trust were extended and then trampled on. These wounded hearts are left picking up the pieces of their broken hearts and broken spirits vowing they will never trust again.

Does God have a word for those reading this with wounded hearts? “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” [Ps 34:18] Is your heart broken and wounded as you read this? Let this truth sink in. God is near to you. Call out to Him. Pour out your soul to Him. Offer Him your wounded heart. He is available and accessible.

If you are living life with a crushed heart and a broken spirit He offers two things for you. He is near and He saves. The word saves means He delivers, He preserves, He rescues, and He restores.

I grew up with a wounded heart. Verbal abuse. Physical abuse. Lies and deception from my very own family abounded. I lived seventeen years of my life with a wounded heart. Jesus took that wounded heart and through His love, grace, and tender mercies He made me whole. That same heart has been wounded numerous times since then. I have always found God near and always experienced His deliverance from bitterness and rescue from destruction. He rescued me from eternal damnation and from a life of hatred and retaliation. O reader offer to Him your wounded heart. Let Him put it back together and bring the healing of salvation and restoration through a relationship with Him.

I cannot spare you the wounds in your heart. They come to us all. I can point you to the only One that heal the wounds, restores the soul, and that can put your life back together. He is my best friend Jesus.