The Broken Heart – Part 2

The Broken Heart – Part 2
Matters of the Heart Series

We all find ourselves broken in some manner at various points in our lives. Last week I provided a fairly extensive list of those failures, heartaches, stumblings and disappointments. I want to look this week at how Jesus views our broken hearts, whether it is through our own failure or that of others.

In John 8:1-11 we have the account of the adulterous woman. If that sounds familiar to you, you may have read or be familiar with my book, Trapped! The Adulterous Woman  In fact, it was during a time of teaching this study that the Lord gave me the idea for the book. Who was this woman? What really happened?

Although most of us think of her as a prostitute, many scholars believe she was a betrothed virgin who was used by the Pharisees to set Jesus up, to frame him, to trap him. That is the angle I take in the book. Though she was guilty, look at how Jesus deals with this situation — no condemnation. He confronts it with compassion and firmness at the same time.

Woman, where are your accusers? Has no man condemned you? She answered, No one, Lord! And Jesus said, Go on your way and from now on sin no more.” (vv 10-11 Amp)

That’s how Jesus deals with failure!

           Psalm 145:8 says: The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and abounding in mercy and loving-kindness.

You see, God’s not mad at you. So many of us walk around bowed down and feeling guilty for past offenses that we are no earthly good in the heavenly kingdom. (Tweet this!) The enemy is beating us up because of our failures, but what Jesus says is, “Get up, go on and sin no more.”

Take care of the sin, by repenting, but then go on and don’t do that anymore. Look at vs. Psalm 145:14:

The Lord upholds those (of His own) who are falling…  (i.e. our own sin)

            ...and raises up all those who are bowed down.

This is terminology for a reed that has been bowed down because of the sun’s heat or blasts of wind, because of outside forces. So either way, whether it is because of our own failures or what has come our way through no fault of our own, the Lord is going to uphold us and raise us up.

There is no condemnation in Jesus’ eyes…Get up, go on and sin no more.

What kind of story or life message did this lady have after talking to Jesus? One of His love and compassion.

The truly Godly people I know have had some experience of their own insufficiency, and/or impotence or sinfulness, or heartache, and through that fall or failure have acquired the precious gift of tender love and compassion for others — and humility.  It is gained no other way. The people God uses most to bring glory to himself are those who are completely broken, (Tweet this!) for the sacrifice he accepts is a broken and contrite heart. (Ps. 51:17)

The call and the mission is to reach out in love to penetrate our world. How can we bring a message of hope and love and compassion and forgiveness if we’ve never experienced it? What hurt are you carrying today? What is breaking your heart? It is at the point of your brokenness and/or failure that God will pinpoint your destiny. Please share stories below about where the Lord has been faithful to mend a broken heart in the past for you or someone you love.

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