Help for Broken Hearts

 Only Jesus understands the wounds in your soul. Only God can heal your heart. Jesus was despised as a child and subjected to the mockery of his neighbours because he was conceived before his parents' wedding.

Did Mary and Joseph explain to everyone that God was the real father of their son? Imagine if someone said something like that. Today they might end up in a mental hospital.

When the shepherds visited the newborn Jesus in Bethlehem, they worshipped God's Son. For Mary, this was a confirmation of the revelation given to her by God, but she did not share her thoughts with others, except perhaps Joseph.

But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. Lk 2:19 NIV

Are you often misunderstood? From an early age, Jesus was misunderstood and disregarded. You need help, but please be careful. Not everyone can understand you or help you.

Maybe you go to a devout Bible believing church. They teach that the psychology of emotional disorders is all worldly heresy. The cause of all your problems is simply your sin.

Is that true? Jesus must have suffered a lot even though he had no sin.

Our hurts and disorders can come from our own sins, but they can also often come from abuse you have experienced, that is, from the sins of others, sins against you.

None of us is without sin. Even the Christians who want to advise you.

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 Jn 1:8–9 NRSV

But it is useless to confess and change only our outward actions if our offences come from a depraved or wounded soul.

Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Gal 6:1 NIV

Anyone who rebukes someone with gentleness must understand that only God can heal a wounded soul. Only God can heal a corrupt heart.

Jesus had difficult problems with the Pharisees. The Pharisees were legalistic. They focused on outward behaviour instead of understanding that God cares about our heart and soul first.

Many strict Christians today make similar mistakes. They torment weak Christians with harsh criticism or they torment themselves with guilt complexes.

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.

Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean. Mt 23:25–26 NIV

If you need counselling or therapy and your church only talks about rules and Bible texts, you must seek help elsewhere.

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Ps 147:3 NIV

God is for you, not against you.

 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Rom 8:31–32 NIV

Your life is a gift. You are because God is. Your talents and abilities are from God.

God has good plans for your life, but you may not see it.

An American was a world champion shooter. He was on the verge of winning a gold medal at the Olympics. His last shot was a direct hit. He was delighted, but then shocked. He had hit the wrong target. No medal!

You may have talent, but despite hard work and remarkable achievements, you are frustrated. Many people try very hard but are unfulfilled.

Vincent van Gogh is still world-famous as an artist, but he was not respected during his lifetime. His family were devout Christians, and very strict Calvinists at that. He was supposed to become a preacher, but everything went wrong.

He was very depressed, but in his church there was no understanding of mental illness or God's miraculous healing. Thank God we have good psychiatry in our time and also Christian ministries where you can receive healing.

We are obviously in the end times. Many Christians focus on the schemes of the devil that can be seen everywhere, but in our time God has also given marvellous gifts.

We now understand much better that Jesus is not only the Saviour and Redeemer, but also the Healer who heals all diseases, just like in the Bible.

If Vincent van Gogh and his family had understood God's plans better, he might have experienced miraculous healings. His gift as a painter would have been recognised and he would have been able to manifest his Christian faith as an artist.

Thank God we have miraculous healing services today and also good psychiatric care. I know Christians who need both. God is so good.

I know Christians who, despite loving support from friends or family, were often overwhelmed by stress, illness or panic until they got the help they needed with good care and psychiatric medication.

 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Rom 8:31–32 NIV

Many of us need counselling, healing and good care to release our talents. Then we need wisdom to understand what God's purpose and plan is for our lives.

Each of us is unique and somehow different. Vincent van Gogh was not meant to be a preacher, as he was expected to be, but an artist.