My Jesus: From Heartache to Hope

by Anne Wilson

Where can I find a firm foundation when the world around me is crumbling? Jesus. Where can I find comfort in the middle of my mourning? Jesus. Who offers me rest when I’m past the point of weary? Jesus. Who can make a broken heart beat again? Jesus. Who loves me unconditionally? Jesus Who can work all things for my good? Jesus.

Invite Jesus to meet you in that safe place and rest assured, He will. He stands at the door of your heart and knocks. Let Him in and let my Jesus change your life.

It’s amazing how God weaves our moments together, such intricate little details that become the golden threads of our lives. He sees the end from the beginning, but we see only the moment.

it’s not until you’ve chosen to believe in Him with your heart that everything changes.

He is the God who enters real life with us and makes His presence known in everyday situations, because He wants a personal relationship with us. That is why the Son of God came, died, and rose again. Whether you’ve never known Him, only had a head knowledge of Him, or already walk in personal relationship with Him, I invite you into a deeper and more intimate relationship with Jesus right now. There is always more.

This is the word of faith that we preach: that if you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:8–9 mev

“You never know what someone else is going through. And God doesn’t call us to judge. Plus, who knows? That guy might save your life someday!”

Good reminder

keep your heart in a position of gratitude and watch for the many things in life that bring joy.

Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 mev

Psalm 56:8 says, “You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book”

When our hearts are ripped open in pain, the Enemy of our souls shoots his fiery arrows and tries to convince us that God does not have our best interests at heart and that He’s not good. It can be easy to believe these lies, not only because we are vulnerable but also because our experiences seem to agree.

God draws near to our shattered hearts. In His goodness, He enters our pain. I’ve heard it said, “What if the point of Job wasn’t why God allows suffering, but how God is present in our suffering?”

Safety and healing are found in trusting in God’s character and His Word. No wonder the Enemy tries so hard to keep us from it.

The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the broken-hearted, and saves the contrite of spirit. Psalm 34:17–18 mev

Grief does feel like fear.

And I have to tell anyone who is suffering—the only way to make it through is to surrender to the Father and trust Him to carry you.”

Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace.

“Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28 nasb).

you is this: turn your heart toward God. Whatever you are feeling, He can handle it—all of it. The tears, screams, questions, or silent thoughts—He invites you to share all of it with Him and let Him tend to your heart. God is not scared of your emotions. He is a tender Shepherd.

I knew God would complete whatever He had begun to do in my life. Like the Bible says, the One who called me would be faithful to bring it to completion, and I could leave it in His hands (Philippians 1:6).

None of us knows what the next day may bring.

When your pain and sorrow go deep, God’s love goes deeper. He will meet you there. He will also work it for your good. That can be a tough truth to swallow. I know. But goodness is part of His nature, and He wants you to know and experience it. This is the difficult reality: We can only fully understand how God brings life out of death and joy out of mourning when we have walked through it. If you are struggling right now, pray this prayer with me: “God, don’t waste an ounce of this pain. Work all of this for my good and Your glory.” We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28 nasb

Psalm 27:5, which say, “For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock”

1 Peter 5:10 in Jacob’s familiar handwriting, tears filled my eyes: “After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish you” (nasb).

Jesus even promised it when He told us that in this life, we will face troubles.

Suffering comes, but it doesn’t have to stay forever. We can invite our God of grace into our pain and allow Him to perfect us, confirm us, strengthen us, and establish us in faith.

pain and suffering push us toward dependence on our Father.

We will suffer in this life, but we can have hope. God has a purpose for us, even in our pain and sorrow.

After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 1 Peter 5:10 nasb

If God had not been with me every step of the journey, I don’t know how I would have survived.

I know this feeling

When the pain, memories, and what-ifs overwhelm you, surrender them to God. Take every thought captive to the truth (2 Corinthians 10:5). Give God what you yourself cannot bear. Picture yourself handing it over, giving Him your heart, and falling into His embrace. Do this again and again and again. When you’re in a place of grief or lingering depression, every day feels like climbing out of a pit of despair. The way out is not through your own strength, but through surrendering to God and allowing Him to lift you out.

It’s one of the great paradoxes of God: only when we surrender do we become free. Cast all your care upon Him, because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7 mev

“God knows all your desires and has your best interests in mind. He promises in His Word to give you the desires of your heart—even if He accomplishes that in a different way than you had in mind.

Have you ever noticed that God has a way of showing up just in time? He is rarely early, but He is never late. Part of trusting Him is believing He’ll show up when we need Him, even if we don’t see anything happening. The waiting is hard, though, isn’t it? But once you begin to see Him working, it builds your faith for the next time. You can remind yourself: God did it then, and He’ll do it again. I can trust Him.

as we walk with Him, He leads us into deeper maturity.

He will make a way for me, even if my circumstances tell me it’s impossible. You may not have your answer yet, but don’t give up. His timing is perfect, and His provision will be just what you need. I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living. Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord. Psalm 27:13–14 nlt

listen to His voice above all others.

follow God’s guidance for my life first and foremost. Ultimately, His opinion of me was the only one that mattered.

God doesn’t call us to a life of comfort; that comes after this life. He calls us to a life of following Him over high mountains and through deep valleys. Not that we don’t find comfort in this life—we absolutely do! But we are meant to find it first in God, not in our circumstances.

Know that He, the God of all comfort, goes with you. And He is worthy of any risk or sacrifice. All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. 2 Corinthians 1:3 nlt

My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 nkjv

Romans 5:3–5, which says we should rejoice in our sufferings because they lead to perseverance, which leads to character, which leads to hope. And hope does not disappoint.

My hope isn’t that I won’t face suffering again. It’s a hope that no matter what I face, God will be there with me in it, working it for my good.