If you came over from Encouragement for Today, welcome!

For the 3,000+ of you following week #2 study, we are pausing today to give away a copy of The Mended Heart: God’s Healing for Your Broken Places. We’ll jump right back into our discussion tomorrow!

We’ll also choose a winner of an autographed copy of The Mended Heart from the comments in today’s post.

mended heart quote4

For those of you who are grieving a loss, like my friend Amber, may I share something that a new friend said this week?

Claudia is following our study, and she sent me a picture of her sitting in her bed, sticky notes all around her feet, a copy of The Mended Heart in front of her. Claudia lost her husband too young, and her heart is hurting.

photo (1) (640x480)She says, “I’m in chapter 4 (Amber and Callie’s chapter). It is speaking to me and I believe a little piece of my broken heart is healing! I can’t stop underlining and writing comments in the margin. I believe this chapter will be a go-to by which I can measure my progress out of this dark place.”

Writing Chapter Four of The Mended Heart was the hardest chapter to write.

How do you find wholeness after such a significant loss?

Amber and another friend, Jennifer Kennedy Dean, came alongside me, both who have experienced deep and unexpected loss, but who exude joy and peace.

As they told their story they did not diminish their loss, or the place that their loved ones hold in their heart. But both shared that they have come to realize that there is comfort in a Savior who pursues from the cross, knowing in advance that we would all need Him in our hour of unavoidable pain.

If you are grieving today, may these verses be a prayer over your hurting heart. Put your name in them. Make them your own, for they are your safe place to find comfort.

For those of you who are following The Mended Heart study, these verses are also for you. As you heal from the hurt inflicted by people, these are promises of rest, but also renewed life and strength!

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (Matthew 11:28-29, NIV)

He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. Bot those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:28-31, NLT)

I am leaving you with a gift — peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” (John 14:27, NLT)

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13, NLT)

The Mended Heart I’ll see those of you who have joined The Mended Heart study right back here tomorrow!

I’d love to give those of you who are joining me for the first time a gift — download the first chapter of The Mended Heart here just for you. It shares three things that you DON’T have to do to find a mended heart.