Bad news is like hearing a freight train off in the distance, often there a subtle signs that your world is about to be knocked off its foundation. Phone calls that awake you from a peaceful night’s sleep, face to face conversations which suddenly turn in an awkward direction or simply a gut feeling which strikes your soul with a heavy burden. When your house is built upon the sand, Luke 6:46-49, all you can do is pick up the pieces of your life and begin to start over.
When trials bombard your life, James 1:2, denial and isolation often serve as a buffer to protect your broken heart. Over time, anger follows as reality and pain re-emerges from deep inside your soul. Once anger fades from the scene, the “If I only” thoughts enter your mind as you try to relive the past, hoping for a different outcome. As bargaining with God ceases, sadness and depression consume your every moment, like a spell you are unable to break. Finally, there is only one thing left, to accept the reality, bad things happen to good people.
As I struggle to make sense of my own unemployment and financial woes this morning, I was reminded of Lamentation 3. The first 19 verses are filled with crushing events, heartbreak, pain and sadness. However, verse 20 serves as a transition between bad news and hope. Verses 21-26 are a sign that as the proverbial dust settles, the Lord is ever present. The next time you feel like your life is falling apart or the walls around you are about to cave in, remember God’s promise in Psalm 34:18, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and heals those who are crushed in spirit.” On your own, its impossible to pick up all the pieces of your life, yet with God all things are possible, Matthew 19:26.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 