“How long, O LORD, must I call for help, but you do not listen?” (Habakkuk 1:2)
“The LORD is near the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18)
When the doctor said, “She will never recover,” it felt like a punch in the gut! I never expected to hear those words. That meant life would never be the same. That also meant I would never be the same. I dreaded the thought of how life would change, but I was not aware of how it would change me.
Dreams and aspirations motivate us. They give us focus and fuel to move forward. But what happens when those dreams and aspirations are crushed by an excruciating loss beyond our control? An unwanted divorce? Losing a child? Losing a spouse? I don’t know which is the hardest; I suppose it is the one that you are going through at the time.
Life is a journey. As with a Texas tornado, everyone is vulnerable to experiencing a crisis. When it happens, it does two things—it shapes our character and reveals our character. One thing that it does not do is leave us unchanged. A significant loss creates internal upheaval. Our priorities and values are challenged. Things that seemed so shiny in the past lose their luster; they are no longer as attractive nor as important. Faith in God is dropped into a fiery crucible, tested for genuineness and purity.
How do we react? We can close off our hearts and become imprisoned by bitterness and anger, or bring our broken hearts to God and receive His comfort and guidance. There is no shame in identifying with the prophet Habakkuk’s angry complaint, “How long, O LORD, must I call for help, but you do not listen?” (Habakkuk 1:2). It happens to the godliest people, but it should not be the end. King David wrote, “The LORD is near the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18). Rather than close off our hearts, we must open our hearts to God. When we do, logos becomes rhema, i.e., David’s written words (logos) become our experience (rhema). God walks with us through the journey. He transforms us by reshaping our values, priorities, and perspective of the future. David also wrote, “He restores my soul” (Psalm 23:3).
My initial thoughts became reality. My life will never be the same, and I will never be the same. Crushed dreams and aspirations? Yes, but it is not a dead end. Emerging from the fiery crucible is a new vision governed by eternal values and a renewed purpose in life.
Everyone will experience a crisis. It is inevitable. When it happens, how will you respond? An open heart to God restores hope for a brighter future. Move forward.
Stop and Consider . . .
Next: Top 7 Life Lessons #5: Isolation kills. Be intentional about staying connected. Move forward.
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