HOW DO YOU FIX A BROKEN LIFE?
I don't know many people who wouldn't say that sometimes life it hard. Each of us struggle with our own problems, many times unknown to those around us. We become very good at hiding the hurt and disappointment we feel. We keep to ourselves those things that we feel others might think are weaknesses or flaws in our lives or our characters.
Sometimes life is even more difficult than just dealing with our personal inadequacies. Sometimes our lives are broken by others. They may hurt us physically or emotionally, those we love may die and leave us alone. It may be that the one we had hoped would love and protect us, doesn't! They may ignore us or even leave us for someone else. Our lives or perhaps our hearts are broken; damaged by some thing, some one, or some happening.
Lives can become broken in many ways, and I surely don't know or understand all of them. In my almost 40 years of ministry to others I have experienced many, many people with broken hearts and broken lives. I wish I could say that I have complete understanding or perfect empathy for each person and each situation, but can't. I try hard to understand and grasp the feelings with which they struggle, but one of the limitations of being human is that I have to live within those limitations. I can sympathize, but sometimes that is the best I can do.
So, how do you fix a broken life? Someone put it this way, "To fix a broken life, use the tools of the heart." Paul writing to the church in Galatia had this to say, in Galatians 6:2, "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ," (KJV). A modern translation puts it this way, "Take on yourselves one another's troubles, and so keep the law of Christ." (BBE) The word translated as "bear" in the Greek has a more literal translation of, "to sustain, uphold, or support." Paul writing in Romans 12:8 says that some people have the "gift" of being able to encourage others. Could that be your gift?
Sometimes people will say, "I just can't do anything to serve God or his church." Can you encourage others? Can you send cards, make calls, just let someone know that you are thinking of them?
Paul tells us that sharing one another's burdens is keeping the law of Christ. What law? Jesus said in John 15:12, "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you." (NIV) One Greek source defines this "love" as "to delight in the relationship." You see, you are one of the "Tools of the heart". You are God's hands here on earth!
How do you fix a broken or damaged life? You do what you can and use what you have to minister to, encourage, lift up, help, or bear burdens for others!
Maybe you are one who has a broken or damaged life. Maybe you are struggling, because you don't think that anyone really understands or can make it better. You may be right when you look at our meager attempts as fellow human beings to help you. We may not be able to understand enough, we may not be able to take away the hurt, but we have the promise that there is one who can. We have one who can feel and understand no matter what has broken us. The writer of Hebrews draws an encouraging picture with his words of the one who can understand and lift us up when no one else can. "Having then a great high priest, who has made his way through the heavens, even Jesus the Son of God, let us be strong in our faith. For we have not a high priest who is not able to be touched by the feelings of our feeble flesh; but we have one who has been tested in all points as we ourselves are tested, but without sin. Then let us come near to the seat of grace without fear, so that mercy may be given to us, and we may get grace for our help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:14-16, BBE)
Are you struggling with a broken life? You have three choices that I can see. First, try to struggle through it all by yourself and deal with the pain, heartache or loss by yourself. Second, share with others of like faith and let them help lift the burden. Third, come near the seat of Grace, (Jesus Christ) and get help in our time of need."
My pray is that God will grant you Wisdom, Grace and Peace!
I don't know many people who wouldn't say that sometimes life it hard. Each of us struggle with our own problems, many times unknown to those around us. We become very good at hiding the hurt and disappointment we feel. We keep to ourselves those things that we feel others might think are weaknesses or flaws in our lives or our characters.
Sometimes life is even more difficult than just dealing with our personal inadequacies. Sometimes our lives are broken by others. They may hurt us physically or emotionally, those we love may die and leave us alone. It may be that the one we had hoped would love and protect us, doesn't! They may ignore us or even leave us for someone else. Our lives or perhaps our hearts are broken; damaged by some thing, some one, or some happening.
Lives can become broken in many ways, and I surely don't know or understand all of them. In my almost 40 years of ministry to others I have experienced many, many people with broken hearts and broken lives. I wish I could say that I have complete understanding or perfect empathy for each person and each situation, but can't. I try hard to understand and grasp the feelings with which they struggle, but one of the limitations of being human is that I have to live within those limitations. I can sympathize, but sometimes that is the best I can do.
So, how do you fix a broken life? Someone put it this way, "To fix a broken life, use the tools of the heart." Paul writing to the church in Galatia had this to say, in Galatians 6:2, "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ," (KJV). A modern translation puts it this way, "Take on yourselves one another's troubles, and so keep the law of Christ." (BBE) The word translated as "bear" in the Greek has a more literal translation of, "to sustain, uphold, or support." Paul writing in Romans 12:8 says that some people have the "gift" of being able to encourage others. Could that be your gift?
Sometimes people will say, "I just can't do anything to serve God or his church." Can you encourage others? Can you send cards, make calls, just let someone know that you are thinking of them?
Paul tells us that sharing one another's burdens is keeping the law of Christ. What law? Jesus said in John 15:12, "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you." (NIV) One Greek source defines this "love" as "to delight in the relationship." You see, you are one of the "Tools of the heart". You are God's hands here on earth!
How do you fix a broken or damaged life? You do what you can and use what you have to minister to, encourage, lift up, help, or bear burdens for others!
Maybe you are one who has a broken or damaged life. Maybe you are struggling, because you don't think that anyone really understands or can make it better. You may be right when you look at our meager attempts as fellow human beings to help you. We may not be able to understand enough, we may not be able to take away the hurt, but we have the promise that there is one who can. We have one who can feel and understand no matter what has broken us. The writer of Hebrews draws an encouraging picture with his words of the one who can understand and lift us up when no one else can. "Having then a great high priest, who has made his way through the heavens, even Jesus the Son of God, let us be strong in our faith. For we have not a high priest who is not able to be touched by the feelings of our feeble flesh; but we have one who has been tested in all points as we ourselves are tested, but without sin. Then let us come near to the seat of grace without fear, so that mercy may be given to us, and we may get grace for our help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:14-16, BBE)
Are you struggling with a broken life? You have three choices that I can see. First, try to struggle through it all by yourself and deal with the pain, heartache or loss by yourself. Second, share with others of like faith and let them help lift the burden. Third, come near the seat of Grace, (Jesus Christ) and get help in our time of need."
My pray is that God will grant you Wisdom, Grace and Peace!
Russ Lawson
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