Rest

Dear Friends,

I truly enjoy what I do and so I don’t think much about vacations and such.  Usually, Amy has to remind me that we need to start thinking about and planning a time away from our normal pursuits.  She is always right, of course, because if I don’t plan times to get away and rest, I will go until I find I am having a difficult time functioning or am feeling tired and sluggish.  At that point I realize that I have overestimated my stamina and my work/life enjoyment and productivity begins to suffer.

“Rest” is defined as “ceasing work or movement in order to relax, refresh oneself, or recover strength.” “Relax” means “to become loose or less firm, to have a milder manner, to be less stiff.” The Bible shows us that God takes rest seriously.  Beginning in Genesis 2:2-3 we see that God created for six days; then He rested, not because He was tired but to set the standard for mankind to follow. God used one of the Ten Commandments He gave Moses to make resting on the Sabbath a requirement of the Law (Exodus 20:8-11). The requirement to rest wasn’t something new; it had been around thousands of years since creation. God knew we needed it!  Now, this command to rest was not an excuse to be lazy. Nope, God said, “Six days you shall labor and do all your work” (Exodus 20:9).  That’s a command too.  (Personally, I like our 5-day work week!) God even commanded that the land needed to rest (Leviticus 25:4, 8-12).  Yes, God is very serious about rest.

I believe that God commanded us to rest because it does not come naturally to us.  Today, most people’s lives are built around either their careers or their passions.  These are super important to us because they are part of what defines who we are and provides for our nourishment, health, shelter and comfort.  To rest and relax we have to put these aside at least for a time.  That means we have to trust that God will take care of things for us. We have to trust that, if we take a day off, our world will not stop turning.  

As early as Genesis 3 mankind decided that we didn’t want to trust God that much.  We collectively decided, through our common ancestors Adam and Eve, that we would start making all the decisions.  Since then, stress has been our constant companion and we have become more tense, more violent and less able to relax. Disobedience exiled us from God’s rest, but obedience to Christ here on Earth promises a return to God’s eternal rest (Hebrews 4).  Ultimate rest is found only in Christ. He invites all who are “weary and burdened” to come to Him and cast our cares on Him (Matthew 11:28). It is only in Him that we find complete rest from the cares of the world, from the sorrows that plague us, and from the need to work to make ourselves acceptable to Him.

Jesus is our Sabbath rest.  He has fulfilled the law on our behalf.  However, even Jesus, while He was on earth and subject to the frailties of the flesh, took time to rest.  He would go off by himself to pray. He and His disciples would seek out places to get away from the crowds.  They also attended weddings and visited family and friends.  If the almighty, eternal and infinite God the Son saw the benefit in these times of rest, relaxation and refreshment, we should as well!

Only by Grace!

Pastor Mike

Storms

Dear Friends

Storms are such a wonderful metaphor for the times of trial and chaos that we experience in life.  Watching a large storm steadily progress across the vast ocean or up along the coast speaks to the great power that is beyond anything mankind can withstand.  It is often sobering to think of our smallness and fragility compared to the magnitude of power and size of a large storm. 

There are times when life is going well but we can see the storm coming in the distance.  That gives us time to prepare for it, to shore up our defenses.  Other times storms come upon us suddenly or unexpectedly strengthen in intensity and we are tossed about in the grip of a power greater than our own.

Life storms seek to knock us over—mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually. Our lives are full of troubles, so at any moment we are probably either in a storm, just heading out of a storm or about to experience one. We are going to experience all kinds of rain and thunder. We will need to navigate floods and blizzards.  We will be forced to rebuild after wind and hail. No one is exempt. Both the righteous and the unrighteous are affected by storms. 

Wouldn’t it be nice if I could say that following Jesus meant we will never have to face any storms? I wish I could say that following Jesus means that the waters of life will always be calm. I wish I could say that following Jesus means life will be rosy and all of our days will be sweet.  But I can’t.  Think about the disciples who followed Jesus, they rowed right into storms with Jesus on board! The disciples discovered, as many of us have also discovered, that we can be both in the center of God’s will, and still in a storm.  Following Jesus doesn’t offer immunity from troubles. What it does give is the opportunity to experience Him in the midst of trouble.

Storms affect us all. Life comes with troubles. However, when we follow Jesus and build a foundation with His Word, He joins us in our troubles so we need not go through them alone.  Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). We will have tribulation, Jesus says. That isn’t negotiable. But in the midst of every storm, we can find the courage that comes from knowing the one who has overcome the world, who can calm the storm.

God has a purpose for storms. He doesn’t always reveal it when we want Him to. In some cases, we won’t discover what it is until we get to Heaven. But He has promised us that if we love Him, He will use the good, the bad and the ugly winds for our good, His glory and the advancement of His Kingdom.

Only by Grace!

Pastor Mike

When We Fail

Dear Friends,

We all will fail at some point in our life. No one we know is perfect.  I would bet that most of us could readily give an account of some past failure that, at the time, seemed like the end of the world.  God knows we’re going to fail every once in a while. Yet, He also stands by us and helps us get back on our feet. Is it easy to accept failure? No. Can it make us depressed and feel down? Yes. Yet, God is there to help us work through our predicament.  Psalm 40:2 (NIV)
“He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.”

Failing is a learning experience so we can do better next time. There were many Biblical leaders who failed; Adam, Abraham, Moses, David, Jonah, Peter and Paul just to name a few.  But they learned from their mistakes and kept moving forward. Determination and failure lead to success. We fail and we get up and try again. Eventually we will get it right.

When someone asked about his many failures prior to inventing the incandescent light bulb, Thomas Edison famously said, “I have not failed, I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”  He went on to say, “Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.”  True failure is not even trying to get back up, but just quitting. We could have been so close, but we decide it’s not going to work and quit.

There are many ways to fail.  We can fail ourselves by not achieving our goals. We can fail others by not living up to their expectations or our promises to them. We even fail God by not following His commands, guidance or character.  But God is always near and if we fall, He’ll pick us up and set us back on our feet.  Of course, that doesn’t mean that there are not consequences for our failures.   Certainly, there are!  They are part of the process and help us to remember and avoid repeating our mistakes.

Likewise, part of overcoming our failures, particularly when we fail others or God, is owning up to our mistakes.  God wants us to acknowledge our shortcomings.   That allows healing and forgiveness and enables us to work to better ourselves. James 5:16 (NIV) “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed…” and, 1 John 1:9 (NIV) “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Failures need not define us.  There is always hope and God stands ready to help us through.  We need only humble ourselves, admit our failure and try again. 

Only by Grace,

Pastor Mike

Mountaintops and Valleys

Dear Friends,

In life we all have mountaintop experiences and we all must walk through valleys.  We certainly like the mountaintops better than valleys.  Up there the air is clean, the sun is shining, and the view is amazing. But the truth is, the only way to reach the mountaintop is to travel through the valleys.  It’s inevitable, there’s no way around it.

Jesus warned his disciples and ultimately us about these “life valleys” in John 16:33b (NIV) “… In this world you will have trouble.” Notice that Jesus said, “You WILL have…,” it’s not a matter of if; it’s a matter of when.  Of course, when we look out at the horizon of where our life path might take us, it’s easy to see and look forward to the mountaintops.  It’s the valleys that are dark, hidden and unanticipated.  There’s no way to prepare or schedule for these valleys of trouble.  How many of us are ever able to schedule a layoff or an automotive breakdown, a sickness or death of a loved one?

But be encouraged!  Valleys are temporary; they do have an end. Furthermore, valleys have a purpose. God never wastes our pain.  Jesus continued in John 16:33c (NIV) “… But take heart! I have overcome the world.” “The world” is used to designate all that is hostile, rebellious, and opposed to God in our human experience.  This includes other people, societal, political and cultural ideologies as well as the rulers, authorities, powers of darkness and spiritual forces (Eph. 6:12) that affect and control earthly experience. 

Jesus came to conquer and to overcome. He did just that!  Just after saying those words, Jesus went to the cross, then He rose from the grave. He has been exalted at the right hand of the Father where He has sent His Holy Spirit down into us.  The resurrected, overcoming, King of Kings and Lord of Lords dwells in us individually! His Spirit resides in you! So, no matter how dark the valley, no matter what might dwell in that darkness, we need not fear nor despair.  David wrote in Psalm 23:4 (NIV) “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me…”  David refused to be filled with fear in the dark valleys, because God was with him in a very real and personal way.

We are undefeatable!  The overcoming, conquering King of all is living inside of us. He is with you! You belong to Him. He is your help. He is your strength. He is your joy. He is your peace. Lift up your eyes and look to Him. He is your hope. He is your victory. He is the one who has overcome and who will help you to overcome that valley you are facing.  Jesus is with you!  He never asks us to go through a valley alone.

One last thing, it has been my experience that once we go through those valleys, the mountaintops are even more stunning!  They are sweeter, more awe inspiring and give us the courage to head down the other side toward another valley, because we know that God has even more and greater mountaintops in our future!

Only by Grace!

Pastor Mike

Discipleship

Dear Friends,

As I continue to pray about and think about what our post-Covid church might look like, it occurs to me that the mission of the church, making disciples, will remain the same.  How we do that (programs and practice) will almost certainly need to change to meet the evolving needs and demands of the people we are trying to disciple.  Our challenge, as a church, is to not carry over anything from our pre-Covid practice into our post-Covid practice that hinders or eliminates our mission.

During our ongoing studies in the Gospel of Luke we are constantly seeing Jesus’ teaching and interaction with His followers.  We have even seen how Jesus chose and separated disciples who were advancing in their maturity for increased levels of instruction, experience and ultimately apostolic responsibility.  It was this master plan of discipleship that led to the establishment and vitality of the early church.  We here at Frederica Baptist stand at the crossroad of what was and what will be.  Our past is a tale of faithfulness and marching towards a God-given vision of establishing a new church on the north end of St. Simon’s Island that stands on the Word of God.  That vision is about to be realized!  It is time that we cast a new vision for the next leg of our journey.  That vision must be seen through the lens of our mission, making disciples. So, it behooves us to understand what it is to be a mature disciple.

(1) Mature disciples know God’s plan for salvation. In their hearts they know that they are slaves in bondage to terrible enemies: sin and death.  They see that they stand helpless and hopeless to save themselves so they need a rescuer—Jesus, our savior and redeemer.  Mature disciples acknowledge that Jesus exchanges His righteousness for our unrighteousness when He took on our sins at the cross.  He gives his followers eternal freedom from the just punishment for our sins and adopts us as sons and daughters into the family of God to be joint heirs of His kingdom.

(2) Mature disciples know the God that they serve. They recognize that He is beyond our ability to fully comprehend.  They see that God wants a relationship with them.  Mature disciples never stop striving to learn what God is like from His revelation in the Bible and in creation around us. They view the Bible as the story of God’s relationship with his people over the millennia, and they see his workmanship throughout the world around them.

(3) Mature disciples choose their identity in Christ over who this world says they should be. Rather than focusing on who they are, they focus on whose they are. They affirm that God created them in his own image to be his representatives here on earth.  They rejoice that Christ came and died on the cross to offer them a new and redeemed identity.   

(4) Mature disciples serve out of love. Scripture paints a clear picture for how we should treat our fellow human beings. In Zechariah 7, the prophet chastised God’s people for going through the religious motions then treating others poorly. Immature disciples may serve others when it’s convenient or when it makes them look and feel good. But mature disciples follow Jesus’ example with continuous service. They serve others by taking God’s love for people and making it their own.

(5) Mature disciples eagerly share their faith story.  The Good News of Jesus Christ is the greatest gift we can receive. Through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, we are adopted as God’s children. We are made holy, receive the Spirit, and enter into an eternal loving relationship with our Lord.  Mature disciples follow Jesus’ instruction to share his Good News with others: “Go into the world and preach the gospel to all creation” (Mark 16:15). Mature disciples desire that the transformation experienced in their own lives occur in the lives of others as well.  So, they share the good news and how it shaped their story of faith with those who need to hear it most.

(6) Mature disciples worship regardless of circumstance.  Their hearts are aware of God’s constant presence, and they can’t help but marvel at his glory.  Mature disciples see worship as a lifestyle. Their worship is not dependent on location, music style, or any other external factor. Mature disciples worship God even during tough times because they know that God is always worthy of praise.

(7) Mature believers defend their faith, their hope in Christ, just as the Bible encourages us to do: “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,” (1 Peter 3:15). Mature disciples are equipped to communicate God’s truth in a world that is hostile towards Him. They don’t share God’s truth in an overbearing way, but they display a confidence and a willingness to unashamedly and respectfully engage our culture.

(8) Mature disciples don’t take the journey of discipleship alone. When we’re adopted as children of God, we gain millions of spiritual siblings who are on the same journey.  Whenever Scripture describes the life of a disciple, it’s in the context of a community of faith. Mature disciples seek unity and community with other growing disciples.

Each of us must individually evaluate the maturity of our discipleship.  Being a disciple of Christ is a life-long journey.  As a church we are called to help each other and those outside our walls to draw closer to Christ.  I hope each of you will pray with me as we look forward to the next steps in the growth of our mission.

Only by Grace!

Pastor Mike

Stumbling Blocks

Dear Friends,

Recently, I have been thinking about ways that we as a church and as individual Christians inadvertently discourage people from encountering the saving message of the gospel.  I know that sounds crazy because we are called to be light and salt to the world around us (Matt. 5:13-16).  My guess is that none of us consciously want to exclude anyone from interacting with the redeeming love of Christ.  I am sure that, like me, it is your desire that everyone experience the amazing saving grace of Jesus just like we have!  That’s why I think it is so vital that from time to time we evaluate our lives and practices to make sure that we are not unwittingly placing stumbling blocks in front of the very ones we are trying to lead to the Lord.

Most of the time in the Bible, a “stumbling block” refers to something or someone who keeps another from a relationship with God. In Matt. 18:5-7, Jesus says, “And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me; but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks! For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to that man through whom the stumbling block comes!”   We don’t want to be that guy!

Stumbling blocks also arise in unintended ways. The mature Christian life allows some freedoms that seem contrary to an obedient, disciplined faith. The Corinthians were concerned about eating meat sacrificed to idols. Modern issues include drinking alcohol in moderation or dancing. “But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak” (1 Cor. 18:9). Our liberty is not worth another’s walk with God. If something God allows would lead another to sin, we need to avoid it. We are given great freedom as Christians, but the greatest is the freedom to consider others’ welfare over our own.

As a church we may create stumbling blocks to the unchurched as well.  These are things that make it difficult for people to walk through the doors and find a seat in order to hear the gospel.  For example, I believe our current location is a stumbling block to many.  Insufficient parking can be a stumbling block or poor directional signage.  How we present ourselves in print or on the radio may cause people to stumble in their walk to the cross.  Once people are inside the doors there are many more opportunities for stumbling blocks.

Can we as a church remove everything that may be a stumbling block to the non-believer?  Probably not, but the more we are able to tackle and remove, the more salvations we will eventually see.  The problem is that many of these stumbling blocks to others are personal preferences of our own.  These are the when, where and how we like things done in church and worship.  What are we willing to sacrifice for the salvation of souls?  How much was our Lord willing to sacrifice?

Refraining from being or creating a stumbling block and removing existing stumbling blocks is essential to our commission. How we accomplish this depends on our concern for others and the hearts of those around us. The security we have in God’s love and provision, both now and eternally, allows us to show concern to those who are weaker and those who need specific encouragement to understand who God is. In some situations, we may need to sacrifice our freedoms to build up weaker believers and not confuse non-believers. 

As a church, we need to be attentive to society around us and consider cultural changes and biases.  In various ways, Jesus, Paul, John and James, all tell us that we are not to be of this world but we are in this world as ambassadors of the Kingdom.  Without sacrificing Biblical truth or godly morality we need to be palatable and attractive to the lost all around us.  That is being “salt” so that we might share the “light.”  The light, of course, is the gospel and the gospel is the only stumbling block that we should want the lost to encounter.

Only by Grace!

Pastor Mike 

Memorial Day

Dear Friends,

Memorial Day weekend is just days away.  Today, most people see this as the start of the summer holiday season but it was originally meant as a somber reminder that freedom comes at great cost.  Throughout the history of our country brave men and women have died protecting our freedom, our way of life, in the armed forces. Their sacrifice is what we commemorate on this last weekend of May.

To our national shame, many in our country have forgotten or take for granted the lives that have purchased the freedoms that we so enjoy.  They mock and belittle the sacrifices made on foreign soil so that they would have the right to speak freely with such ignorance about those who fought and died on their behalf without even knowing who they are.

A hero is defined as a person of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his or her brave deeds.  Heroes come in all shapes and sizes with differing personalities.  Heroes, I believe, are made in an instant of decision.  That decision is usually about putting the needs of others above their own, counting the lives and welfare of others as greater than their own and worthy of sacrifice.  It is a decision of humility.

Soldiers in the various branches of the United States Military lay down their lives again and again in the name of freedom.  These men and women choose to make the ultimate sacrifice not just for their country, but for their friends and family as well.  In John 15:13, Jesus called that type of sacrifice a love that surpasses all others.  “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”

Jesus showed that same selfless love when He suffered and died to save mankind from their sin.  In response to that sacrifice and out of gratitude for it we as Christians are called upon to follow Him as soldiers of His kingdom, “Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus… his [the soldier’s] aim is to please the one who enlisted him” 2 Tim. 2:3-4.

From the very earliest days of the church, believers have put on the “armor of God” (Eph. 5:10-18) and have marched into the enemy lines, fighting for the eternal lives of others they may never meet.  Thousands die each and every year for the cause of Christ unknown, unsung, without memorial. 

There’s a reward for them beyond this life, however.  King David understood that this world is but a temporary posting for a soldier of the Lord.  He wrote in Psalm 27:3-4 “Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.  One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek:  that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.”

This weekend, while you are getting ready for school to be out and vacations to begin, take a moment to remember those who have fought and died so that others, in this country, can go on living and enjoying freedom.  These men and women who have laid down their lives in active duty will never return to their family and friends, nor would they see the day that the fighting came to an end.  Our freedoms have been won and protected at great cost.  Never take them, or the men and women who continue to meet threats both foreign and domestic, for granted. Never forget.

Only by Grace!

Pastor Mike

Getting Older

Dear Friends,

I was scrolling through Facebook the other day and saw a friend suggestion for someone I knew from High School.  He was the starting quarterback and homecoming king and he dated the cheerleading captain and homecoming queen.  I sat there staring at his picture and I thought, “Wow, he really looks old.”  Then I remembered what I looked like in the mirror that morning!

We are preparing for Graduate Recognition this Sunday, May 23^rd.  This type of service always makes me feel old.  I mean, most of these graduates were born in the 21^st century (after the year 2000).  I was born fairly close to the middle of the 20^th century.  That’s a little depressing!

The Bible presents growing old as a normal, natural part of life in this world. The Bible even attaches honor to the aging process, because growing old is normally accompanied by increased wisdom and experience. Proverbs 16:31 says “Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained by a righteous life.” That’s actually becoming one of my favorite verses!   God wants us to remember that life is short and that the beauty of youth is soon gone according to 1 Peter 1:24, “All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall.”

In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon provides an insightful look at aging and the issues related to it.  He tells us that we are born with a natural tendency to “live for the moment,” but ultimately there is futility in that approach.   As people grow older and begin to feel the increasing impact of their mortality, they typically try to invest their resources in projects that to them seem to hold more promise of lasting meaning in life, they want to leave a legacy.  Unfortunately, there’s no way to predict what will have lasting value and significance in the future. This, according to Solomon, can lead to disillusionment and despair when we realize the meaninglessness of our earthly toil “under the sun.” 

The book concludes with a charge to reject the wisdom of men and the pursuits of this life and to adopt an eternal perspective in the face of life’s brevity and injustice.  Why spend your life pursuing pleasure, wealth, success, wisdom, even religion?  What should we do? “Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man” (Eccl. 12:13b).  The rest, God will take care of when He brings “every deed into judgement” (Eccl. 12:14a).

With our inevitable disillusionment over the human condition, our universal depravity and mortality, it is wise to remember that “Anyone who is among the living has hope…” (Eccl. 9:4a).  The living still have time to acknowledge God and to take joyful advantage of all their gifts, talents, wisdom, and opportunities in life, before all ability to do so has ceased, before death or disability closes the door on those opportunities.

Growing old is not so bad if we are engaged in our God-given purpose.  Of course, our purpose is only fulfilled in Christ, God’s promised Savior. While this earthly life may seem less fair for some than for others, at the final judgment, when we receive our inheritance for the way we invest what God has given us, we will see God as surpassingly fair in His rewards.

Mark Twain used to say, “Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.”  God has made us who we are, placed us where we are and gifted us with the resources we have.  Our pursuit of purpose should always have Christ at the center regardless of our age.

Only by Grace!

Pastor Mike

Time

Dear Friends,

It’s been said that time is our most precious commodity.  There is never enough and once spent, it can never be replaced.  From an earthly perspective this is true.  The saying, “Time flies,” is a truism of the swiftness of the passage of time, particularly the older we get.   King David pointed out in Psalm 39:4-5, “You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Each man’s life is but a breath.” James the brother of Jesus said this about our lives in James 4:14, “You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”  Yes, our time on earth is fleeting, in fact, it is infinitely small compared to eternity. To live as God would have us live, it is essential we make the best possible use of the time we are given here on Earth.

To that end, Moses prayed in Psalm 90:12, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”  A good way to gain wisdom is to learn to live each day with an eternal perspective.  Knowing that on Judgement Day we will have to give an account to the One who gives us time should motivate us to use it well. C. S. Lewis understood this and wrote, “If you read history, you will find that the Christians who did the most for the present world were those who thought most of the next.”

In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul cautioned his readers, “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil” (Eph. 5:15-16).  Living wisely involves using our time carefully. Knowing that the harvest is great and the workers are few and that time is running out should help us make better use of our time to witness, both through our words and our example.

The responsibilities and pressures of this world call for our attention and try to distract us.  Thousands of voices pull us in different directions and makes it easy for our time to get swallowed up in mundane, lesser matters. Unfortunately, things that have eternal value, often get pushed aside.

As followers of Jesus, we are charged to give our best to everything to which God has called us. In all of our relationships, our work, our studies, serving others, the little details of our lives, caring for the health of our bodies, even in rest and recreation, our primary focus should be on God. He is the One who gave us this time on earth, and He is the One who directs how we spend it.

The Bible counsels us to place our focus on that which is eternal as opposed to the fleeting pleasures of this passing world. Time spent with God and getting to know Him, through reading His Word and prayer, is never wasted. Time spent building up the body of Christ and loving others with God’s love is always time well spent. Time invested in sharing the gospel so that others will come to know salvation in Jesus, bears eternal fruit.  We should live as if each minute counts, because it really does.  Jesus said in John 9:4 “We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; for night is coming, when no one can work.”

Only by Grace,

Pastor Mike

Heartbroken

Dear Friends,

Many of you have known heartache.  We tend to use the term heartbroken today to describe the crushing grief, anguish or distress that we feel when we lose a loved one or suffer a failed relationship.  In fact, a broken heart may be brought on by any number of other things such as disappointment in a child’s lifestyle, loss of a cherished possession, loss of a job, even the loss of reputation. Whatever the cause, the pain of a broken heart can be enormous.

I did a Google search on “how to heal a broken heart” and the responses were many, varied, sometimes humorous and sometimes sad.  Write an angry letter and tear it up. Go on a shopping spree or get a makeover.  Drink… a lot.  Eat chocolate, make new friends and see a therapist were some suggestions.  Some advocated the power of positive thinking. The most common suggestion is to give it time. What I notice about these suggestions is that all they are doing is numbing or distracting from the pain.  (Some may even lead to future pain.)  However, the Bible tells us in Psalm 147:3 that we have access to a loving Heavenly Father and “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”

While not the earliest Biblical record of heartbreak, Job’s life is certainly the most extensively explored.  In one day, Job lost his children, almost all worldly possessions, his health, and his means of livelihood. His response in Job 1:20-21 was, “Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.”   Job grieved his losses but he also worshiped God and remained faithful. Listen, Job had doubts about God’s goodness and why these terrible things happened to him.  But by remaining faithful to God, he grew closer to Him as God revealed Himself to Job through his trials.  Job learned that God is faithful and good and trustworthy.  He is with us in our heartbreak.

David, is described in the Bible as a man after God’s own heart.  Even so, he suffered many heartbreaking circumstances. Admittedly, most were the circumstances of his own sin but each time he recovered and was an even stronger man of God.  David wrote Psalm 34 during a very low time in his life.  He talks about overcoming heartache by calling on the Lord. He says in 34:4, “I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.” David knew in 34:18 that “the Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” Finally, he expressed a confidence in the love of God that every believer should have in 34:19, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.”

I have sat with many hurting people who in their despair ask, “If God loves me so much how could He let this happen?”  Or, “God hates me, He doesn’t care about me!”  The sad truth is that most of the calamity in life is of our own doing.  If not ours personally than as a result of sin that entered into the world because of man’s rebellion against God.  However, even with that sober realization, we have the promise of God’s Word in Romans 8:32 which states, “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” The writer of Hebrews was inspired by God to comfort believers with the promise that God “will never leave you nor forsake you” (Heb. 13:5). The Apostle Paul knew that God is always near to comfort the believer so he wrote in 2 Cor. 1:3-4, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction.”  

Throughout the Biblical record, God never failed to deliver when His people cried out to Him, and He will not fail the heartbroken Christian who cries out to Him today. He may not always answer exactly in the way we would like, but He always answers according to His perfect will and timing.  Sometimes, like Paul, we must remember that God is glorified in our weakness and His grace alone is sufficient to sustain us (2 Cor. 12:9).

Hurt is a part of this life.  Heartbreak is something that most if not all of us will encounter during our stay on this earth.  God promises those who trust in Him a freedom from hurt and pain when we are glorified with Him.  Rev. 21:4 promises, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”  I hope you find joy in the promises of God.

Only by Grace!

Pastor Mike