A Prayer for the Brokenhearted (December 2022)
Fifty years ago in Omaha Nebraska, Robert and I sat in a restaurant on Thanksgiving Day. We were a thousand miles away from family and home. We sat at the little table and looked around the room. We saw other military families. The atmosphere was charged with sadness, loneliness, and hurt. The day was about thanking the Lord for His many wonderful blessings and we did; but we found ourselves missing what Thanksgiving had always been. We missed our family.
Then, Christmas would be here in a few weeks. A blanket of snow had covered the ground, approximately a foot deep. We lived in a small trailer that we had rented rather than staying in the military barracks. Once again, we found ourselves feeling a grieving in our hearts. Our family had mailed their presents to us, and they were all under our tree. Our hearts once again longed to be with family. Yes, it had always been about celebrating the birth of Jesus; our Emmanuel (God with us), and we did. …But once again, we longed for the traditions that we had enjoyed with family. We almost dreaded Christmas Day.
Three days before Christmas, Robert said that he was able to get off from his military responsibilities. He smiled at me and said, “Would you like to go home for Christmas?” There are no words to express the joy that flooded me. We packed up our gifts and headed home to be with family. It was probably the best Christmas that I had ever had. All I could do was praise my Jesus for making this possible for us.
The passing of years tends to change circumstances and the dynamics of life and family. You may be experiencing some grief in your heart. Maybe you realize those that you enjoyed celebrating with are no longer with you. You may be feeling alone. Maybe you don’t feel strong in your body, and sickness and pain are trying to rob you of any joy. Did you realize that Jesus knows what you feel? He is touched with the feelings of your weaknesses and feeblenesses of mind and body. Hebrews 4:16 tells us, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace (God’s unmerited favor), that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Because the Lord knows what you feel, He can bring us the help that we need.
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee” (Isaiah 26:3). Then, in Philippians 4:6&7, “Be careful (worried and anxious) for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Our hearts and minds are kept in His comfort when we make our requests known to the Lord with thanksgiving; believing that we receive. We read in 2 Corinthians 1:3&4, “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulations…”
“Father, in Jesus’ name, You know what each one of us feels, and You know how to help us. Lord, I ask you to wrap Your arms around the broken hearted and to set at liberty them that are bruised (Luke 4:18). I thank you for giving us comfort when we hurt. Help us remember that we are not alone as we grieve. Help us cling to you when we feel despair. Father, show us how to take refuge in You when our hearts are shattered. We know that you understand. So, we lift up each person reading this right now. Comfort them. We pray this in Your Son’s precious and Holy name, Jesus. Amen!!!”