Oh nooo... someone went and broke your heart... you want to curl up in a ball and cry your eyes out-- and just be left alone. Someone you love has gone and told you they don't want you anymore- they don't need you-- they found someone else-- whatever the case may be the end result is the same-- they left you.
When I say "break-up" this doesn't have to be a romantic love- boyfriend/girlfriend relationship-- it can be a friendship or a family relationship too. Break-ups come in all shapes and sizes here.
Know this in your pain and suffering:: YOU are more. As difficult as this may be, say it out loud with me... I AM MORE.
Let me ask you a question. Why are you special? What makes you shine? What makes you... you? What are your assets? What are your talents? Who are you? You are ALL of these things!!
- I think I'm pretty, I am good at listening, Helping people makes me feel good, I think I have a good personality, I am good at being creative, Working with children makes me feel good, I am good at math, I think I am a good wife, daughter, & sister, God gave me a second chance at life curing me from cancer, I feel like I bring hope and encouragement to others...etc
The more positive you speak-- the more of a positive environment you create.
They are the ones that are missing out-- not you. They are the ones at a loss here-- not you. What will they miss about you? You say "nothing...that's why they left me." Well I say think again... what were those things you just told me about above? The things that make you special and shine? Those things, whether they realize it now or later... they WILL miss.
Healing::
There is healing in all this mess-- we've already covered how to start this healing process above by speaking positive into your life. The next step is to invite God into the sticky situation. This can be the easy part or the hard part because this is the moment you LET GO-- it's the free fall moment, the step out of the boat moment and TRUST that He has you.
You're asking "Okay, so if God has me- then why all this heartache and all this pain?" That's a question that I really can't give you a specific answer to unfortunately. Each situation is different- but what I can tell you from personal experience is this: sometimes God allows certain things to happen to get you to where He needs to be- He allows suffering to draw you closer to Him- He never leaves you and never gives you more than you can handle- and as far as "unanswered prayers" that I've prayed... I really don't think that they were never "unanswered"- I think they were answered with a "no" and I just didn't want to hear it. I'm thankful a lot of them were answered with a "no"-- I wouldn't be where I am today.
I saw a banner one time when Andy and I were visiting a church in Elijay. It was a big banner with a big red heart on it and it was broken with all kinds of cracks. The interesting part of the banner was that all of the cracks were filled in with gold! Jesus is the gold. He fills in all the crack, nooks and crannies. He is the restorer and the perfecter of our faith that we possess. That image is ingrained in my head, I think about it from time to time- especially when someone says or does something that hurts me-- I remember the heart as my heart- broken and when I call upon Jesus, He fills my cracks with gold and restores me.
Think of the "break-up" like this-- you were wearing someones' letterman jacket... and it defined you- you thought it was who you were as a person. It was stiff at first- new- but then it got comfortable and broken in. When that person broke your heart-- they wanted their jacket back--their jacket came off- you felt alone and naked even. "Who am I?" you ask yourself. There is another jacket (the only "jacket") that you can put on that no one can EVER take off-- actually, there is an entire outfit you can wear... in Ephesians 6- it's called The Armor of God- and it goes like this...13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Cool hua?! The beautiful part of all this is Jesus just doesn't just reach for the first aid kit and say "there, there my child... here's a bandaid". No, no-- He goes ALL out!! He fills the cracks!! He RESTORES YOU!! He brings restoration to your soul!! I hope that all this helped you out- because I know that it helped me-- and even if you aren't in the "break-up" times at the moment-- I hope that these examples will help you in the future. Because lets face it... break-ups can happen anytime- like I said earlier, it can be a love relationship (long term or short term), a close friendship, a family relationship, a co-worker, your boss, your neighbor... the list goes on and on. The fact of the matter is that anyone can hurt you or your feelings- but a quote I love is from Eleanor Roosevelt "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." It doesn't mean you are never gonna get your feelings hurt or your heart broken, but you have the choice to make it right- you have the choice to try to remain positive and keep moving forward- you have the choice to forgive- YOU HAVE THE CHOICE!!!
Take care of you :)
