Friend of a Wounded Heart

Smile, make them think you're happy
Lie and say that things are fine
And hide that empty longing that you feel
Don't ever show it
Just keep your heart concealed

It's true of most of us, isn't it? We paint on a smile, paste on a happy face, and we lie through grinning teeth about the heartache we're hiding deep inside.

It's safer this way. MUCH safer. Too many times we've turned to the wrong person or the wrong thing. And the result? Typically more devastation and brokenness. More "stuff" to muddle through and more "junk" to sweep away in the recesses of our minds. Just another place of our hearts we close off and hope to never have to deal with again.

It's true of me. The places I try to hide are the very places God needs to do business. The stuff I want to forget and never revisit is the stuff He needs to deal with. The parts I try to lock away are the parts where He shows up and forces me to reveal.

Anyone else looking for a friend for your wounded heart? Anyone seeking a place to turn with the shattered pieces of your life? Anyone searching for someone to trust with the emptiness and loneliness you feel? Anyone trying to find strength to move from the place you stand paralyzed?

The chorus of that song continues:

Jesus, He meets you where you are
Jesus, He heals your secret scars
All the love you're longing for is Jesus
The friend of a wounded heart

It's a good and loving God who refuses to leave me as I am. He knows you're broken. He knows you're hurting. He knows every piece. He sees the pile of rubble. He understands the mess - and He's willing to wade through it to get to you and the most concealed places of your life so He can begin His work.

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18

I know so many struggling, so many hurting, so many wounded hearts who are searching for a place to turn. Today, I implore you - along with me - to turn to Him, the Friend of your wounded heart.