God Heals The Brokenhearted

Sometimes when I see other people with their siblings, I get jealous. I’m being honest, I know that isn’t Christ like and the appropriate response but it’s the truth. My relationships with my sisters are broken and fractured. Divorce, mental illness, abuse and unbelief separate my sisters and I. It’s heartbreaking for my parents and I that things have become this way.

Galatians 5:22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

For many years, I tried to fix things and model the above verse for my sisters. I prayed and prayed while working hard to forge relationships with my sisters. I wrote letters, made calls and trips to try and make things better. Then another situation would come up that would end with me in tears. Why couldn’t I fix things? What was wrong with me? The shame was overwhelming. I just couldn’t understand God’s purpose in this? My husband and several other believer friends all tried to help me along and show me that this wasn’t okay. By staying and begging, I was actually opening myself up to the emotional abuse.

Finally eight years ago, one of my sisters was screaming at me over the phone and I decided that enough was enough. I hung up and never looked back, I prayed and asked God to guide me through. He has been a constant companion showing me the way. I went to biblical counseling and learned several tools to help me heal from the emotional abuse and the freedom has been wonderful. I love my sister, I’ve forgiven my sister for everything but that doesn’t mean it is my job to fix her.

A few years later, I was praying for answers on how to heal my relationship with my other sister. This sister and I used to be close and I just didn’t understand what happened? There wasn’t any of the issues that I struggled with the other sister but I still couldn’t fix it. I asked God to show me it would be healed someday and he showed me in a major way it would. The only problem with that is….I kept up with trying to fix it myself.

Two years ago, I finally came to the realization that I, me, myself cannot fix it. Only God can fix these things when the other person is willing to let him. I, me, myself cannot fix anything on my own. It is all in his time, not my time. These things have nothing to do with me, I have not done anything and cannot do anything more. I have to wait patiently on him to show me the way.

Psalm 147:3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds

During this time, God has done the most amazing thing. He has healed my heart, taken my shame and shown me that I am fully blessed. I do have MANY sisters, sisters in Christ and friendship. Sisters that are there by choice and love me .I call them my sisters of the heart, sisters who have helped to heal a huge hole in my heart and filled a huge role in my life. In the last two years, the freedom I’ve experienced has been amazing.No longer do I focus on what I don’t have instead I focus on what I do have.

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

I continue to love my blood sisters, pray for them and hope that someday all will be healed. Until then, I no longer fight God and try to do his work. I sit back and relish in the work he has done and enjoy the sisters of the heart he has given me. Thankful they choose to stand by my side and help me through this journey. They’ve all taken on the role of being my sisters and filling the hole in my heart. I am so thankful for them and that I opened my eyes to see what God has given me. I am richly blessed and thankful.

Psalm 28:7
The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.

About the Author: Julie Timms

Julie has been married for seventeen years to the world’s most patient husband. Homeschooling mom of a tween daughter and teen son. She blogs at Just Jules a autobiographic, candid look into her life while sharing God’s glorious triumphs and miracles for their family. Proud organ donation recipient’s wife and working tirelessly to give back to the organ donation community and share their story.  She tweets @MomCycFan talking about NKOTB,Pro Cycling and her beloved Packers and sharing her fitness journey while trying to lose 100 lbs. Never a dull moment with Just Jules.

 Don't miss any of the new posts at Finding Purpose in the Pain. Subscribe by email above by putting in your email address where it says follow by email, like us on facebook or follow on twitter!