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By Karen Friday

A team of nurses and doctors cared for my dad’s failing body. I prayed day and night that the Lord would touch his body and heal him. But after thirty days in the hospital, he breathed his final breath.

Losing my dad brought a heartache I’d never known before. The grief threatened to swallow me alive. When your heart seems to shatter in a million pieces, you wonder if it can ever be put back together. 

Do you relate to this kind of heart wounding?

A Wounded Heart

Afflictions can not only attack your physical body, but also your heart—grief, loss, despair and other heart-wounds. Both your outer body and inner self need care and lots of it.

Sure, you are responsible for part of this care like desiring a healthy body and guarding your heart from the wrong influences.

But the ultimate care-giver for your heart is not your husband or best friend. And it’s not reading a self-care book on healing your own heart or a religious or human meditation practice. It’s God himself. 

God’s Heart Care

Who better to tenderly and lovingly watch over your heart, care for your heart and heal your heart than the God who created you? Just as the Lord transforms your spiritual being from the inside out, he heals you from the inside out. 

Because let’s face it, a wounded heart affects so many things about a person. Things like your outlook, relationships, peace and hope.

Letting God Care for Your Heart

So, let’s look at each of these areas your troubled heart affects and the ways God brings inner healing. 

Outlook

When I remember times of needed heart healing, I also recall a flawed point of view. Even the way I viewed most everything about life at the time was tarnished. Is this true for you? “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:26 (ESV)

The Lord heals your heart, transforming your outlook.

Relationships

Perhaps your heart’s been wounded over a broken or strained relationship. You may try to not let it affect your family members and friends. But it only takes one heart-breaking relationship to spill over onto all your relationships. 

You may become too guarded, overprotective, closed off or shut down emotionally. “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3 (ESV)

The Lord heals your heart, making a difference in how you relate to others. 

Peace

Real peace seems so very far away when my heart is hurting. Instead, my heart feels suffocated from the lack of calm. I desperately require the soothing balm of God’s peace applied in copious amounts. 

But God tells us not to be anxious and take everything to him in prayer, “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV, emphasis added)

The Lord heals your heart, giving you the peace that surpasses all understanding. 

Hope

When I experience heart wounds, I want hope more than anything. That’s why many of us need someone to say, “It’s going to be OK.” 

Although the situation turns out different than what you hoped, knowing God is the ultimate hope-giver helps you face today and every tomorrow. “But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)

The Lord heals your heart, faithfully providing hope beyond measure. 

Wife Step: Write these scriptures and promises on notecards to keep in your Bible or display somewhere you will see them.

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