A Day-by-day devotional

February 7, 2023

When the heart hurts much

Chronological One Year Bible Reading Plan: Exodus 35-37

Scripture of the Day: Psalm 139

Has your heart ever hurt so much you felt like it is being wrung? It was utterly painful that if it is up to you, you would rather have your heart taken out of your chest? Perhaps, to say that your heart was bleeding at that very moment would have been an understatement of a metaphor.

When we are hurting, it is not uncommon to think and believe that nobody understands what we are going through. That’s probably true! When the heart is in pain, that pain in solely ours. Nobody else can feel it for you. It is but your own. The degree of your affliction could only be known to you. Hence, what adds more to the suffering you’re undergoing, is the feeling of being alone. Put painful and alone together, and you would have the perfect recipe for hopelessness.

Many of us have been in that place. More likely than not, it is a place we would never wish to go back to. When the heart hurts, everything else also does. Nonetheless, however real our pain may be, there is always something that the heart would make us think to be true, but isn’t. After all, above all things, the heart is deceitful (Jeremiah 17:9). It sometimes makes us think we are on our own.

However, even if we are the only person who actually feel the pain in our heart, we are never truly alone in what we are going through. Someone always thinks of us, since the time we were created. This someone has promised never to leave you nor forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:8). In fact, He always has you on His mind and how amazing are His thoughts over you! (Psalm 139:17).

When your heart is hurting, the pain that you feel is truly only yours. No one else can feel your pain for you. But even if you feel all alone and nobody is left to be with you, God will never abandon you. After all, He created you. He is the only one who truly knows you. Yet, He is the only one, who, even with truly and fully knowing you, still completely loves you!

Reflection: When your heart hurts too much, have you tried finding comfort in God’s promises to you? Meditate on the the truths of Psalm 139, until each word engraves its meaning into your soul.

Prayer: Lord, I am truly grateful that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. When I am in deep sorrow, remind me how you are holding my heart. Amen.