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:

1. What is it teaching about God?
2. What is it teaching about me?
3. What is it teaching about relationships?
4. What do I want to study more deeply?

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,

1. Trust me. I care about you.
2. Be faithful. I am more concerned with your heart than the results.
3. I have a plan for you. Do not fret about the circumstances or the problems.
4. I love you. I see your pain and I am here with you in your pain.
5. I will never leave you.

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.