Where Do You Take Your Heartache?

I entered this past week with a heavy heart. It is not often that I feel so weighed down and full of sorrow. As I went to bed on Sunday night I wanted to weep and release the pain and confusion that was swirling around my body. My heart was aching, and I felt torn into a few pieces. No, I hadn’t experienced a relationship break-up. But I was feeling deep sorrow for a couple of people close to my heart as I continued to watch the choices they were making.

That night, I reached out to God.  That night, I had peace knowing it was okay to cry. And I cried. I cried to myself, but I also cried to my Heavenly Father.

I haven’t always felt such confidence in turning to God in the face of such ugly pain and heartache. I would believe lies such as:

• “I’m too insignificant, God won’t hear me.” Now I remember David’s prayers in the Psalms: ”but truly God has listened; He has attended to the voice of my prayer” Psalm 66:19.
• “My problems are too selfish or small, God won’t care.” Now I consider what Paul writes, “For while we were still weak at the right time Christ died for the ungodly… but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” Romans 5:6-8.
• “I’m too sinful.” Now I reflect on, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins” 1 John 1:9.

We have all experienced heartache. Maybe it was a break-up with a boyfriend, a falling out with a friend, conflict in the family, or pressure at work. It is usually during these times it can be a struggle to rely on our Heavenly Father for strength and comfort.

It’s also easy to believe the lie, that as a Christian, we aren’t meant to feel pain and sorrow.

But hang on a second. Jesus, the One we feel unworthy and insignificant to approach, “was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief,” Isaiah 53:3. Jesus, the one who died for us, knows our pain and sorrow. Jesus, the Son of God, has been where we have been.

As the week came to a close, and the situations were not resolved, I clung to the hope of Jesus. I took comfort in a verse that I had read that week: “He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted,” Isaiah 61:1.

I still battled a hurting heart. It hurt to know I could not fix the situation, but I have confidence that God is bigger than any sin and pain I have ever or will ever face. And, I have confidence that God hears my prayers.

We will go through life and have our hearts broken. It doesn’t have to be as a result of a guy. It can be from our relationships with friends, family or work colleagues or from choices our loved ones make. It is tough to feel any sort of pain and hurt whether we are single or married, young or old. But we have a Father who cares, and who hears our cries.

Where do you take your heartache? Do you take it to Jesus or somewhere else?

Katie is an Australian in her mid-twenties seeking to live with purpose Down Under. She is a passionate writer who desires to see her words encourage and bring hope to young women. Katie lives with an American family and 2 cheeky dogs. You can read more on Katie’s blog – Our Seasons of Grace – and you can follow her on Facebook.