When My Heart Hurts

by Jennifer Haynie @JenniferHaynie1

These past three or so weeks have been hard. On the surface, one could say my life looks great. No problems. I have a stable job I enjoy. I have my writing, which is my passion. I have a husband, a good family, a good set of friends, a second family in my church. But dig a little deeper, and my heart hurts.

Why? Lots of things. I’m in the busiest part of my work year and am traveling a lot administering training and meeting with those who we fund. It’s enjoyable, but it’s taxing to be away and then come back to tons of e-mails and more work piling up at the office to the point where it feels like I’ll never catch up.

Throw in a writers’ conference I attended, and I had no weekend break. During the conference, I was asleep both Friday and Saturday nights before eleven, which is odd for me. And I’m still not rested. I’m physically tired. Mentally tired as well because conferences mean learning new information that can be hard to digest.

Add onto that some issues going on at our church that have been difficult.

And many friends who are in tough spots right now. It hurts to see them suffer.

Then came the shootings that weekend in El Paso and Dayton. I’m tired emotionally and spiritually.

My heart hurts.

And I need rest.

Don’t we all. We lead busy lives. The news stalks us in twenty-four-hour-a-day cycles. We can’t get away from it, no matter how hard we try. And the news is never good because good news never sells. Angst swirls around us in this country like noxious fumes. Angst can even come to roost in our homes, churches, and workplaces.

It wears us out, leaves us weary.

It also leaves us lonely. And when we’re lonely, we feel isolated. We think that no one cares about us. That makes us easy pickings for the wolves that want to drag us down into despair.

Our hearts hurt.

How do we deal with it?

God knows that we hurt. He sees us. Prayer is one way to deal with things. We can talk to God as if He were right there with us.

Getting rest helps as well. We can’t be our best selves if we’re tired in all areas of our lives.

God also puts helpers into our lives. We’re built for community. We’re wired to communicate.

Simply talking to one another and listening—really listening—can break down those barriers. Listening isn’t easy. It takes work as well as open hearts and minds.

Good communication can eliminate misunderstandings. Peace can come.

Our hurting hearts can heal.

Take the time.

I have. I’ve been talking to my husband a lot about my hurting heart. And to God. I’ve craved what I jokingly call my spiritual breakfast when I sit down and journal my prayers to Him. And I’ve rested. Each Sunday, I’ve made a point to rest.

Has it helped? Yes. Gradually, my hurting heart is healing.

May yours heal as well.

Question: How do you heal your hurting heart?

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5 Comments

    The Conversation

  1. Pam Haven says:

    To heal my heart, i do several of the following:
    Pray to God about what is hurting my heart.
    Read and meditate on God’s Word to refresh my mind and spirit.
    Sing worship songs.
    Speak Jesus’ name out loud.
    Make sure to get 8 hours of sleep.
    Don’t listen or watch the news or use social media.
    Get some exercise, like walking.
    Eat healthy food and drink water.
    Some days, all of the above.
    Just decide to enjoy the day regardless of your circumstances.
    🙋‍♀️💜

  2. Mary Felkins says:

    I really relate to this Jen. My heart becomes overwhelmed sometimes when things are going well with me but too many others are struggling. Life is just exhausting! Great post. Thankful your weary heart took the time to write and publish this 👍

  3. Pam Vashaw says:

    A facebook note I left ten years ago:

    Note: I found this list of Bible verses among some papers as I was cleaning out stuff. I thought this might be a useful place to keep this list for reference instead of letting it get lost among my papers again.

    When the World Seems Like a Terrible Place, then remember:

    “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth”

    “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”

    “Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree,
    And instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree:
    And it shall be to the Lord for a name,
    for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.”

    “I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.”

    “Delight thyself also in the Lord; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”

    “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

    “And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”