Five things to do when your heart breaks for someone who was hurt

Dear Husband and I had a happy Mother’s Day morning teaching Bible to preteens at our church. But the afternoon brought a double dose of sadness. Two phone calls from family members broke our hearts. There was nothing we could do to stop them from being hurt. So what do we do?  Here are five things that have soothed my aching heart this week.

1. Put your hope in the fact that God will judge. We rest in the fact that his great power will bring all things that happened on this earth to his desired end.

“Who among the gods is like you, Lord?
Who is like you—
majestic in holiness,
awesome in glory, working wonders?
You stretch out your right hand, and the earth swallows your enemies.” Exodus 15:11-12

There will be a judgment day. God will decide each person’s eternal abode and repay them for what they have done, good or evil. We aren’t pure enough or righteous enough to judge others. That is God’s job because only he is perfectly just. Every one of us are part of the problem of evil on this earth. We have done or thought wrong things so we have forfeited the right to judge others or determine their recompense.

made with Ai

“For we know him who said, ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay… It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Hebrews 10:30-31 quoting from Deuteronomy 32:35 which says, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back.
In due time their feet will slip.
Their day of disaster will arrive,
and their destiny will overtake them.’

2. Receive God’s good gifts gratefully and mindfully. When the big things are tearing at your heart, make it a point to stop and deeply enjoy the little, daily gifts from our loving Father.
Savor the simple delights of life: enjoy your pet and whisper a prayer of thanks.

Our kitty soaking in affection

Enjoy the flavors and smells of a home-cooked meal, and be grateful for God’s provision. Lay your head on your pillow and give thanks for a clean, safe place to sleep.
Let Creation lessen your stress. Spend time outdoors, even if you can’t exercise, at least sit outside and be grateful for the sky, the trees, birds, flowers, and smells.

Iris and Lavender in my garden this week.

Let beauty calm you. Look at beautiful things- whether God’s handiwork or man’s. A sunset, the clouds, the stars and moon, mountains and hills, forests and fields, and creatures great and small. Great if you can witness it in person, but even photos or paintings of Creation’s wonders can calm us. Paintings in the classical style, whether portraits or landscapes, can soothe our bodies and minds. Music is also an antidote for stress.(1.)
I marvelled at God’s handiwork in this photo of colorful sea urchins. Who knew that tiny creatures in the ocean looked like gems?!! https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/colorful-sea-urchin-photos

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” Psalm 19:1

Sunset from our house in February

 

3. Revel in the glory of God. He is higher and greater than my heartache. When I look at him, his brilliance dispels the shadows in my soul. I have a hard time wrapping my mind around what glory is, but I know part of it is splendor. Other words that convey glory are: honor, excellence, renown, high status, wealth, deserving of praise, and brilliance.
“and I saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east. His voice was like the roar of rushing waters, and the land was radiant with his glory.” Exekiel 43:2

“while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed.” Titus 2:13

“The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven.” Hebrews 1:3

4. Be patient. Bad things happen. Things often feel out of control. But we can’t see the big picture of what God is ultimately doing. We must trust that God’s timing and way is best. None of Jesus’ followers could have imagined while mourning his death that their sorrow would be eclipsed by his resurrection in a body impervious to destruction. We can’t conceive of our suffering becoming a blessing. We question why evildoers prosper and no one stops them. But God will have the last say. Our job is to trust him.

“Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”” John 11:40 (Jesus to Martha, who was objecting to his methods.)

“The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this.” Acts 3:13-15

made with Ai

5. Pray, then pray some more. Many difficulties in life stem from spiritual issues. Often, the resolution of problems happens on a spiritual level. We can pray for our loved ones to discern truth, practice forgiveness, choose to love and care for others, resist selfishness, and trust God completely. Mysteriously, we are protecting them with our prayers. Prayer is fighting in the spiritual realm for the well-being of others who are vulnerable.  When we see our prayers answered, we (and hopefully they) give God the glory, and our faith grows. Paul, the church planter, likened prayer to fighting, struggling, and wrestling on behalf of someone. The word ‘contend’ in these verses means fight, struggle, strive, make every effort, wrestle.

“…we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will. . . I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.“ Colossians 1:9

“I want you to know how hard I am contending for you … My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love…” Colossians 2:1

“He is always wrestling [contending] in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.” Colossians 4:12

Summary
1. Trust that God will judge.
2. Receive God’s good gifts gratefully.
3. Revel in God’s glory
4. Be patient
5. Pray

Footnote
1. https://www.theepochtimes.com/health/your-brain-craves-beauty-heres-why-5847092?est=fI0o9zeKXk5TPx1tN3%2BQTYDYkV9SCqElGLPmlmYhy9st%2Bl0GmuCwSn4WmZATvq5vln0ETcqdmoSBIw%3D%3D&src_cmp=htop5-2025-05-11&src_src=Healthtop5&utm_source=pocket_shared

Sign up to receive my blog in your inbox every week.

We don’t spam!

2 Comments Add yours

  1. Joy says:

    I am sorry to hear about painful messages from family
    I know your beliefs and faith are a comfort to you my dear friend

    1. Grandma Grace says:

      Thank you, dear friend! So appreciate your support over the years.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *