By Suzie Eller
"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." Psalm 147:3 (ESV)
My house has a crack. Just over the doorframe, creeping to the ceiling. It catches my eye every time I sit on my couch in my living rom. My house isn't that old, so when I asked how this happened, the answer was, "collateral damage."
Collateral damage is defined as damage to things that are incidental to the intended target. Who knew that the sunny rays outside could fracture the wall of my nicely air conditioned home? But it happened.
Last year we had one of the hottest summers on record and the parched ground around the foundation strained the frame, which put pressure on the walls, and eventually a crack appeared.
Collateral damage can also take place within our family when we've been hurt by something or someone else, no matter how long ago.
Because a parent made you feel unworthy of love, you lash out when your child doesn't eat the meal you lovingly prepared.
Because your trust was shattered by another, your loyal husband pays the price as his faithfulness is questioned again and again.
Because of negative words poured over your tender heart, you struggle to believe your value to God.
Collateral damage. All of it.
Years ago I struggled with collateral damage. Because of my own past hurts, sometimes I lashed out, or withdrew from a loved one. Sometimes I worked way too hard to be accepted by a God who loved me right where I was.
Psalm 147:3 promises God can fix these broken parts. As He began to heal my heart, He showed me the cracks weren't the source of the problem. My behavior, my inadequacies, even my struggle to feel grace ... these were superficial issues.
The foundational issue was there from the time when a little girl tried hard to stay out of trouble, to make peace, and yet nothing I did worked. So I learned how to hide, how to defend myself, and a few other unhealthy behaviors along the way. Do you relate?
By taking my eyes off the cracks and opening my heart to God, the original source of damage was in plain sight ... where it could be addressed and healed. The more I soaked those wounds in God's truth, the more I began to recognize the cracks and see them in an entirely different Light. The more He healed me.
The fact that a child didn't eat a meal so lovingly prepared has nothing to do with a woman's value; it's just one of the many mom-things we get to tackle.
The fact that your trust was shattered by another just makes the gift of a loyal husband that much more sweet.
The fact that negative words were poured over your tender heart means the thousands of words etched in Scripture are that much more powerful because they redefine you, as seen and loved by your Heavenly Father.
The crack in my living room is slated to be fixed. And next summer I'll be sure to water my foundation in the fierce heat. But as for me, my heart is bound and secure, and that foundation has become a source of collateral gifts in my marriage, with my children and grandbabies, and in my relationship with my God.
Dear Jesus, before today I pointed out the cracks, those superficial acts and behaviors that I've tried to patch over. But today I hold up my heart. You see the foundation of my brokenness. Thank You for binding up my wounds, for healing, and for my new journey to wholeness. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Related Resources:
Do You Know Him?
Do You Know Him?
Visit Suzie Eller's blog for an opportunity to win a copy of her new release,The Unburdened Heart: Finding the Freedom of Forgiveness.
Join Suzie in the Unburdened Heart: Finding the Freedom of Forgivenessstudy on Facebook.
The Unburdened Heart: Finding the Freedom of Forgiveness by Suzie Eller
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Reflect and Respond:
If you take your eyes off the cracks, what do you see?
If you take your eyes off the cracks, what do you see?
Invite God into those broken places. He's been waiting to fix the foundation of your heart for a long time.
Power Verses:
Proverbs 4:20-22, "My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh." (ESV)
Proverbs 4:20-22, "My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh." (ESV)
Suzie Eller
T. Suzanne (Suzie) Eller leads women in a new direction in family, feelings, and faith. She’s a Bible teacher and storyteller, drawing you deeper into scripture and how to apply that in real life. She is a passionate speaker with a powerful life story who loves to connect with her audience both on and off the stage. Her teachings are based on in-depth knowledge of Scripture, but filled with laughter and tears. Suzie’s own story is of overcoming a painful past to discover intimacy with God, a new identity, and how to live a full, joy-filled, and intentional life.
Suzie has spoken to groups of all sizes in Germany, Austria, Hungary, Italy, The Netherlands, El Salvador, Jamaica and throughout the United States.
Suzie is a frequent guest on radio and TV programs. She has been featured on programs such as The Harvest Show, MidDay Connection, Focus on the Family, Aspiring Women, At Home Live, KLOVE, PrimeTime America, Encouragement Café, FamilyLife, FamilyNet, and many others to talk about issues of relevant faith, parenting, teen issues, and overcoming a painful past. She ministers to thousands of women daily through Moms Together (www.facebook.com/MomsTogether) and Live Free (www.facebook.com/LiveIntentionallyFree).
Suzie is the author of more than 1000 articles and columns and several books, including The Woman I am Becoming: Embrace the Chase for Identity, Faith, and Destiny (Harvest House); The Mom I Want to Be: Rising Above Your Past to Give Your Kids a Great Future (Harvest House), Making It Real: Whose Faith Is It Anyway? (Kregel), Real Issues Real Teens: What Every Parent Needs to Know (David C. Cook) and Real Teens, Real Stories, Real Life (David C. Cook). Her newest release (Regal, 2013) is The Unburdened Heart: Freedom Through Forgiveness.
Suzie is happy to pray and work together with you to meet the needs of the women in your church, conference, or retreat.
Suzie has spoken to groups of all sizes in Germany, Austria, Hungary, Italy, The Netherlands, El Salvador, Jamaica and throughout the United States.
Suzie is a frequent guest on radio and TV programs. She has been featured on programs such as The Harvest Show, MidDay Connection, Focus on the Family, Aspiring Women, At Home Live, KLOVE, PrimeTime America, Encouragement Café, FamilyLife, FamilyNet, and many others to talk about issues of relevant faith, parenting, teen issues, and overcoming a painful past. She ministers to thousands of women daily through Moms Together (www.facebook.com/MomsTogether) and Live Free (www.facebook.com/LiveIntentionallyFree).
Suzie is the author of more than 1000 articles and columns and several books, including The Woman I am Becoming: Embrace the Chase for Identity, Faith, and Destiny (Harvest House); The Mom I Want to Be: Rising Above Your Past to Give Your Kids a Great Future (Harvest House), Making It Real: Whose Faith Is It Anyway? (Kregel), Real Issues Real Teens: What Every Parent Needs to Know (David C. Cook) and Real Teens, Real Stories, Real Life (David C. Cook). Her newest release (Regal, 2013) is The Unburdened Heart: Freedom Through Forgiveness.
Suzie is happy to pray and work together with you to meet the needs of the women in your church, conference, or retreat.
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