I never set out to talk about forgiveness. . . or healing.
I’m not a counselor. (I’m married to one, and parent to two, but I don’t think that counts!)
I don’t have all the answers.
I can’t hold up a formula that says, “if you just do X + Z, it’s going to equal Y”. And I don’t want to offer easy answers or quick formulas, because it diminishes a person’s pain and journey if we try to fit answers into a one-size-fits-all category.
But I talk about forgiveness and healing because I discovered Jesus’ mission statement.
It’s why Jesus came. He says so Himself.
Will you read it with me?
The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
I get to talk about forgiving and healing and wholeness because you and I are the recipient of this Mission Statement.
This past year I dug deep into these verses. I wanted to know what they meant, and how to live them out. This is just a few of the things that I discovered.
We can have a Mended Heart because:
Jesus weeps with us when we mourn a great loss.
The power of the cross is not in what we do, but in what has already been done for us.
People are not God.
There is no one so broken that God can’t heal them, no matter what others might say.
These are just the beginning of what came out of this short passage. And if we were to hold on to these truths alone, we could find change.
But there’s more!
There were times that I knelt in a small prayer room in my city, studying, absolutely and utterly broken in joy as I took hold of what Jesus offers so freely.
That study became a book, The Mended Heart: God’s Healing for Your Broken Places, and today I hold it out with open hands.
Can I tell you something?
I still don’t have all the answers. I still promise not to offer pithy statements. But what I do know is, that healing is hard work on our part, but when we partner with Jesus in the process there’s layers and layers of wholeness to discover.
My prayer is that you’ll fall in love with Jesus all over again as you grasp the depth of His sacrifice and love for you.
Will you consider reading The Mended Heart? Will you share it with a friend?
My hope is that this Mission Statement becomes truth for you, and that you then begin to pour out the same truth to others.
Suzie
The Mended Heart: God’s Healing for Your Broken Places
Suzie would love to Skype in with your group for one meeting as you go through this study.
So ooking forward to reading his book and discovering all that God revealed to you. In this broken world that we live in, I can’t imaging anyone that couldn’t benefit from reading this book!
Oh Nancy, I’m thrilled that you are waiting on this book. I pray that it reveals so much of who Christ in the midst of our brokenness. Like a cracked jar of clay, may we sense His light shining through. Every day. In our moments when it feels like things will never get better. May He be our foundation and strength.
Just what I need. It’s going to be hard to wait till March–going through a heart breaking situation right now.
Susan, may I pray for you today?
Lord, may Susan sense your nearness through this dark place. May you shine Your light in the most unexpected places. May what should be a hard time become a time where she grows in you, trusts you, finds depth in her relationship with You in such a beautiful way. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
I am excited about this book. Last year I was diagnosed with cervical cancer, and although the surgery removed every bit of it, I live in fear. For some reason, I always thought God would protect me from that horrible disease because I love Him and tried my best to honor Him. My heart was shattered as though I had lost everything that held me together and the world from that day forward became so unstable around me. I have been searching for healing for my heart and stability in my life again. I don’t want to be afraid of the check up appointments I go to every 3 months. I want to trust God again. Please pray for me and, again, I am so looking forward to your book. I read your posts and i am inspired by your attitude, how I long to just live in freedom and be so in love with my Saviour.
Angela, I’m a cancer survivor. I was diagnosed with mestatic breast cancer, with involved lymph nodes. I remember those first two years and the fear that came with treatment, and change.
That was 22 years ago. I don’t even think about cancer anymore. If I could sit across from you with a cup of hot cocoa, I would share with you what those 22 years taught me.
Live life fully. Don’t let fear of the unknown rob you of one day. One moment.
Fight with faith and knowledge. Learn all that you can to live as healthy as you can. To this day, that knowledge is something that I use.
We live in a fallen world. Our protection isn’t from harmful things, but it’s having an anchor to hold on to, a place to find strength, joy that makes no sense, and the knowledge that the greatest gift we receive from Christ is what was done on the cross. I came to a place where I prayed in faith, but also embraced the fact that God is sovereign and owes me nothing for He’s given me everything. Such a hard place of trust, but so deep and strong.
I remember going to checkups and also how little things that used to be so small brought such great fear, like a rash or feeling tired. With time, sweet Angela, that will get better. I promise. <3
I didn’t know how many tomorrows I had in front of me, and today I’m grateful for every tomorrow I was given. I am grateful that at some point in the process, as I lived life day by day, that fear lessened as trust took its place. Trust that no matter what, He was with me.
I am absolutely honored to pray with you today:
Lord, I remember that place of fear. Of the unknown. Lord, today I pray that Angela senses You so close. That fear is replaced with trust in Your sovereignty. Give her daily what she needs. Help her to not miss a single miracle around her (a smile, a friend, a touch, a beautiful sky). Lift this burden, and may this become a time of rest, and teaching, and deep, deep relationship with you. Lord, I wouldn’t want to go back there again, but I also wouldn’t trade for anything the lessons You taught me during that time. Thank you for that. Be that for Angela. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Thank you so much, Susie. I am sitting at my desk at work just letting your words and the prayer you spoke to wash over me. Thank you for sharing yourself and your trial with me. I know that God wants to do great things in this if I will only let go of fear and just choose to fully trust Him in all things. I know i can’t control my life or what God chooses to allow in my life but I know I can choose to trust Him with whatever does come and that is what I am working toward. My word for this year is Beleive. Believe that He IS all things, can do all things, and will take my back to that place of trust I had in Him but now even deeper. I live such a busy life and I feel God tugging at me to take time to read His word, and spend time with Him. I get so frustrated because I don’t know where to even start…You are such an inspiration and I enjoy your blog so much. Thank you for taking the time to write back to me. I pray that God blesses you with even more than you have now…spiritually, physically, emotionally…ect.
Suzie,
I’m very excited to read “The Mended Heart.” You are one of my favorite authors in the whole world! Your writing is vulnerable, validating,and challenges us to walk with Christ in a fresh way. I grew up in an abusive home and your prayers and words of encouragement have spoken volumes to touch the cracked places in me. I love the Holy Spirit’s peace in you. I’m a writer and am learning so much from your awesome gift of words.
Thank you, Lynn. I’m sitting here with a towel on my head and no makeup, feeling very non-authorish. But I am so grateful for your words. I love what Jesus can do, and that’s what I hear you saying. He has touched your life. How very, very awesome.
I pre-ordered 3. One for myself; one for a book review & giveaway on my blog; and one for a member of my book club to consider the possibility of making it our next book.
Oh, Lynn. What a beautiful thing to do!
hello Suzie, I have just purchased your book, I hope you don’t mind if I scroll through some of your older pages to gather some more insight. Thank you for your ministry and support.