It is amazing how pain can create in us a desire to know God more deeply. It can also do the opposite, unfortunately. For me, sorrow recently added depth to my study of the Word of God. I usually tried to answer four questions when studying a Bible passage. They were:
Well, during a time of upheaval in my life, I found myself asking a fifth question, “What is God’s heart saying to my heart?” Our relationship with God is a heart relationship after all.
Hearing God’s heart is more than hearing the words. We feel Him touch our hearts with His love. We listen to His heart’s voice speaking love and grace. We need to hear God’s heart speaking the words. We need “heart” hugs.
When I find myself in those hurtful places, God’s heart says to my heart,
Truths we all know, but sometimes need fresh reminders. I ask God for lots of “heart” reminder hugs.
Life hurts very deeply sometimes. The pain seeps to the core of who we are. We feel quite undone by the hurt we feel. We almost cannot breathe the pain is so overwhelming. God is with us. Verses that speak of God’s heart toward me during painful times are,
“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thin, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:28, 29
Nor even excruciating pain, or disappointment, or anger, or sense of betrayal, or any other emotion of hurt can separate me from the love of God. Instead, the pain, the hurt, draws me into His loving arms. The grief takes me deeper into His comfort.
Praise God that His love is with us always. Thank God that nothing can separate us from His love. Praise God that our hearts our safely in the loving hands of our Father. Thank God that His heart speaks loud and clear. Thank God for “heart” hugs.
Mary studied Mechanical Engineering as an undergraduate student. While studying she traded semesters working at NASA in Houston, Texas. It was while working at NASA that she felt the tug on her heart that God had another plan for her life. Upon graduation, Mary proceeded to serve as a missionary for the next 11 years of her life; she served in Greece the last two years of her service. Upon returning from Greece, she pursued her Master's degree in Counseling, which led to a job with a major university. It was while working there that God did what God faithfully does, she found herself working as an engineer again as she managed major construction projects for the university. She also pursued her Master's degree in Engineering Management and her Professional Engineering License. Mary now on her ministry and writing. When Mary left missionary service it was her desire to return to fulltime ministry one day. She had her first outline for a book in 1989 (a book she has yet to write). Her first book was published in May, 2014 with the second quickly on its heels in December, 2014. She continues to write and is developing an evangelistic series of books centered around Jesus Christ. Her prayer is that her books will bless others' relationships with our Father God and His word.