What's interesting is that somehow we've overlooked the fact that our heart can be broken and has been broken: For he never thought of doing a kindness, but hounded to death the poor and the needy and the brokenhearted (Ps 109:16). And when a heart is broken, we are left helpless: Scorn has broken my heart and has left me helpless; I looked for sympathy, but there was none, for comforters, but I found none (Ps 69:20). This is why a heart closes — because it's been broken. But the great news is that Christ came to heal the brokenhearted: The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners (Isaiah 61:1). It is like Christ is saying, "Your heart is now in many pieces. I want to heal it." For He says this throughout the Scriptures:
For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them' ( Matt 13:15).
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. (Ps 34:18)
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. (Ps 147:3)
If we want our hearts healed, all we have to do is to ask Christ. We need to understand His truth and His truth about us and our heart. And He's already equipped us to go on that journey. Jesus has given us His Spirit (the Holy Spirit) as Counselor so that we can know in our hearts what the truth is about us: And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever — the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you (John 14:16-17). When God reveals the truth about you, and you believe that truth, it will set you free. Ask for God to reveal his truth about you: Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free (John 8:32).
I want to know and believe the truth about me — God's truth — not the lies I've bought in to over the years — the ones written on my heart. Knowing the truth does not mean knowing cognitively — in your mind. You must know down deep in your heart. This is when the truth begins to set us free, just as the rain must soak the earth down to the roots in order for your garden to grow.
You have an opportunity to "free" your heart from the lies you've bought into. And, you have the same opportunity to help your son or daughter experience the same freedom. If your teen will allow it, ask them these three questions:
1. What has life taught you about your heart?
2. What messages have you learned about you while growing up?
3. What have you believed about your heart over the years?
Encourage them to seek the Lord's truth about them. Encourage them to set their hearts free.
Look for part II of this series next week for practical ways you can reach out to a child with a hardened heart.
© 2005 Smalley Relationship Center.
