Tag: feeling brokenhearted

  • Jesus Our Shepherd

    Jesus Our Shepherd

    Sometimes, we think we are too dirty, messed up, or broken to be loved by Jesus. But that is the furthest from the truth. Jesus is our shepherd, which means he is qualified, willing, and desires to sit in the mess with us. 

    Before writing this blog, I’ve always associated biblical shepherding with farming. I had a picture of a farmer who worked in the day, checked on the animals, worked the land, and then went back home at night. 

    Biblical Shepherds

    Historically, shepherds did not live like farmers. They lived off the land with their sheep. For months, they slept outside, on the dirt, covered by filth. Shepherds were often muddy, bloody, and smelled like animals and poop. 

    Their days and nights looked like this:

    • Caring for and protecting the flock.
    • Fighting off other animals.
    • Healing the wounded sheep.
    • Rescuing stray sheep.
    • Directing sheep to the right paths.

    A shepherd was willing to sacrifice time, get in the dirt, and chase after their flock. This is an image of our God. 

    OUR Shepherd

    Our God loves us deeply in the middle of our storms, shame, and fear. When he looks at us, he doesn’t judge our current state but sees who we will be. He’s not afraid to get in the mud with us. He is willing to get dirty so that we can get clean. He isn’t disgusted by the mud, manure, or blood. He doesn’t belittle, beat, or judge us.

    Instead, he embraces us, longs for us, and chases after us when we are far away. You will never be too broken, too messed up, or too dirty for God. He is a good shepherd. 

    So, today, I want to encourage you to let God shepherd you. Let him be who he is, a good shepherd. 

    Let God Shepherd You.

    Let God be what you need him to be.

    • Let God be a protector if you feel unsafe.
    • Let him be a fighter if you need to fight.
    • Let him be a healer if you feel broken. Let him be a cleaner if you feel dirty.
    • Let him be a shame remover if you feel shameful.

    And finally, let him be your sacrificial lamb if you feel like a sinner because He’s already paid the price. Receive it. 

    God is a good shepherd and trustworthy. 

    The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. I am a good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

    John 10:10-11 NIV

    Did this blog touch your heart? I wanna know. Please like, share, and comment. Thank you for being here! 💖

  • Running Back To Jesus

    A lot of times, when we are struggling in life, we hear things like:

    • God is close to the brokenhearted.
    • Lay your head at the feet of Jesus.
    • Cast your anxiety on Jesus because he cares about you.

    Yet, when we need God the most, we often feel so alone, broken, and far from God. 😩

    Instead of God being our resting place, we reside in brokenness, fear, and depression because we fail to go to God.😩

    Instead, we go to things that promise peace and rest but really elevate our stress. 

    📱We run to things that numb our emotions like: 

    • social media 🎥
    • sex/porn
    • shopping 🛍
    • comfort food
    • wine or weed 🍷
    • gaming, books, etc.
    • overworking & cleaning 🧼
    • gossiping, talking to others, etc.

    They give us hits of dopamine in the moment, but unresolved things will ALWAYS resurface. 

    🌑✨Que, my Grandma Hazel, “What’s done in the dark will always come to the light.” In this case, what you try to shove down will always come back times 10. 

    ✍️ Write it Out: What do you use to numb your emotions?

    A Meeting Place With Jesus

    But let me tell you something: God intentionally wired us to feel deeply and have emotions because our emotions are a meeting place with him. 

    God IS near to the brokenhearted. He is literally there waiting for us to tap him in so that he can give us revelation and victory. 💖

    Distractions feel so good at the moment but often steal our victories. 

    ✨ God intentionally wired us to feel deeply!

    👀So, what happens when we run to distractions (social media, gossip, sex, weed, wine, and other things) that numb our emotions instead of running to Jesus?

    • RULED BY UNHAPPINESS: We struggle with gratitude and feeling discontent. So, we wander the earth aimlessly. 
    • CAN’T HEAR GOD 🎧: God’s voice gets smaller and smaller until we can barely hear him, while the voices of social media and naysayers get louder.
    • MENTAL STRUGGLES: We wrestle with depression, paralyzing anxiety, and make bad decisions. 
    • HEALTH ISSUES: 😴We struggle with sleeping, fatigue, and other health issues.

    See, God wants to be the place you run to. Yet, a lot of times we struggle to hear from God because we’re not going under his wing. 

    🏃‍♀️You will not hear from God by running in the opposite direction.

    By eliminating distractions, aka the things you run to when you’re struggling, you literally create space to hear from God. 

    ✨You will not hear from God by running in the opposite direction.

    LIVING IT OUT

    Today, I would encourage you to:

    1. Think about the things you’re running to.
    2. Intentionally create boundaries so you won’t run to them. 
    3. Trust that when you’re at your weakest, God is close and ready to speak. 

    ✨ EXAMPLES:

    • I do not drink wine when I am sad, struggling emotionally, or stressed. I will not use liquor to numb my emotions.
    • I try to be aware of my mind and set boundaries around what I do when my emotions are high.
    • In high-stress weeks/months, I limit social media, TV, books, and other things I will use to numb instead of handling my business. 

    ✍️Write it Out: What do you run to instead of running to God? How are you going to intentionally run to God instead?