Psalm 34:18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
I met a lady online whose two daughters left home, and she has no idea where they are or what might have prompted their sudden departure. It must be an incredibly heavy burden for her to bear! She must be filled with countless questions and sleepless nights consumed by worry. She heard from a relative recently that her two daughters are safe and what city they are in. But she still has not heard from them. I can only imagine how heartbreaking it is for any parent to face the reality of their children choosing to walk away, without so much as a word or explanation. The empty rooms echo with memories, and the silence must feel deafening, as she wonders if there was something she could have done differently. I would liken a child abandoning his/her parents without as much as a word to an emotional earthquake; such an event would indeed be devastating and leave deep scars that might take years to heal, if healing is even possible.
How does a mother cope with this? How does she live day-to-day? I know why my son chose to stop all communication with us. However, I know how this mother is feeling, deep down in the very core of her being, where love and loss are painfully knit together. Every day before bedtime, as I would shut the blinds, I looked at my driveway, the familiar spot where hope flickers like a candle in the darkness, wondering if tomorrow would be the day that my son’s car would pull up! Would this finally be the moment we reconnect, or would I once again be left holding on to that fragile thread of hope? With each passing day, I find myself replaying memories in my mind—the laughter, the shared moments, the unspoken words that hang heavy in the air. Hope is in my heart, yet the next day comes, and I repeat yesterday’s process: the cycle of waiting and yearning continuing endlessly, yet I cling to the belief that one day, love will bridge the gap that silence has created between us.
Do you feel hopeless, helpless, and filled with despair? You are not alone! God’s Word has solutions to how you feel. Today’s verse (Psalm 34:18) contains two powerful words describing a mother’s heart: broken heart and contrite spirit. We mothers all know what a broken heart is because we are living monuments to that. But what exactly is a contrite spirit? Strong’s defines it as:
dakkâ’
dak-kaw’
From H1792; crushed (literally powder, or figuratively contrite): – contrite, destruction.
I don’t know about you, mother, but my spirit was definitely crushed. How could God allow this in my life? One doesn’t have to go very far in Scripture before reading about the trials of Job. Satan could do nothing to Job without God’s permission. (Job 1:12 and Job 2:6) When you get to the end of the book, you see that because of Job’s faithfulness throughout his ordeal, he is rewarded with much more than when the book began. His unwavering faith serves as a powerful reminder that even in our darkest moments, there is a divine purpose at work. We as mothers must cling to that fact and take comfort in the knowledge that the beginning of our book will look nothing like the end of it. Each chapter is a testament to our growth, our struggles, and ultimately, our triumphs. The end will be according to God’s plan, and there will be blessings found there, waiting just beyond the horizon, revealing the lessons learned and the strength gained through perseverance and faith.
The following verses are known by most Christians. Philippians 4:6-7 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. (7) And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. The word “careful” means “anxious.” That is definitely the way I felt at the beginning of my journey through this nightmare. It took me months to finally understand what I was to do about my feelings, as I struggled with a heavy heart and a racing mind amid the turmoil surrounding me. Paul tells me to tell God about my anxieties and pour my heart out to Him, reminding me that my burdens are not too heavy for Him to bear. The next verse tells us that the peace of God, which goes beyond my understanding, will keep my heart and mind through Christ. When I turn my anxiety over to the Lord, peace follows, flooding my spirit with a calm that I had longed for during my darkest days. I must add that this exercise took a few days before I finally prayed through my anxieties and received that peace, as I learned to surrender my worries and trust in His plan. There I found solace in the knowledge that I am not alone in my struggles. This journey has taught me the importance of faith and the transformative power of prayer in overcoming life’s challenges.
This kind of pain can only be healed by God. There is not a thing you can do to heal the relationship with your child. In fact, you don’t even know where your child is, let alone try to communicate. This uncertainty can be incredibly excruciating and will lead to feelings of helplessness and despair. In a way, this situation should convince you that only God can solve the problem because you can’t! The Lord taught me to trust Him to take care of matters beyond my control, reminding me that His plans are greater than my understanding. I decided right then and there that I was going to work on MY walk with the Lord through this trial, recognizing that my relationship with Him could provide strength and clarity during this awful time. My son is in the Lord’s hands now and I know He is working in that situation. For me, I was going to spend more time praying and reading His Word. This has been the solution for me, as it has not only brought me peace but also strengthened my reliance on His guidance through prayer and reflection, helping me to find a sense of purpose in the midst of the pain.
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. (6) In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
If your cross is similar to mine, please share a comment to encourage other readers who may be feeling downcast or weary on their journey. We can lift each other up and be “Jesus with skin on” to someone else, reminding one another that we are not alone in our struggles. Let’s work together to increase our faith through our trial, supporting one another with love and understanding. It’s in these moments of vulnerability that we truly grow; turning to God’s Word for healing and hope not only fortifies our spirit but also inspires those around us. Together, we can create a community of broken-hearted mothers rooted in faith and compassion, drawing strength from our shared pain and turning to God’s grace to navigate life’s challenges.
I will share the verses below each day, so we remember Who is working behind the scenes and in our own lives:
Isaiah 25:1 O LORD, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.
Psa 91:4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
Psalm 31:3 For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name’s sake lead me, and guide me.
Psalm 40:17 But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.
Psalm 71:3 Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.
Colossians 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
