Dear Friends,
Someone once said, “If you don’t heal what hurt you, you’ll bleed on people who didn’t cut you.” A truer statement is this: unless we open our hearts and allow Jesus to tend to our emotional and mental wounds, we risk passing that bitter pain onto the innocent.
Hebrews 12:15 warns us to, “Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.” (NLT)
Unresolved hurt doesn’t stay contained—it spills into relationships, distorting how we speak, act, and respond. This is a call to pursue healing and forgiveness, both for ourselves and those around us, so that bitterness doesn’t take root and spread.
At the time of Nehemiah, Jerusalem was in a state of ruin. Nehemiah writes… “Hanani, one of my brothers, came to visit me with some other men who had just arrived from Judah. I asked them about the Jews who had returned there from captivity and about how things were going in Jerusalem. They said to me, ‘Things are not going well for those who returned to the province of Judah. They are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem has been torn down, and the gates have been destroyed by fire.’” Nehemiah 1:2-3 (NLT)
In Nehemiah’s day, the wall around the city of Jerusalem had been reduced to rubble, and the gates devoured by fire. It can be the same with us; we get hurt or “burned” by friend or foe, and thus we lie in a charred state of dormancy for months or even years, unable to enjoy life as it was meant to be.
Before Nehemiah begins rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem, he first turns to God in prayer. He focuses on repairing the broken relationship between Israel and the Lord. This reflects a common truth in our lives: many of our challenges come from a strained or distant relationship with our heavenly Father. Healing and freedom begin with repentance, honest confession, and receiving God’s forgiveness.
In Nehemiah 1:5-9, he humbly pleads with God, saying, “‘…O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps his covenant of unfailing love with those who love him and obey his commands, listen to my prayer!
Look down and see me praying night and day for your people Israel. I confess that we have sinned against you. Yes, even my own family and I have sinned! We have sinned terribly by not obeying the commands, decrees, and regulations that you gave us through your servant Moses… ‘Please remember what you told your servant Moses: ‘If you are unfaithful to me, I will scatter you among the nations. But if you return to me and obey my commands and live by them, then even if you are exiled to the ends of the earth, I will bring you back to the place I have chosen for my name to be honored.’” (NLT)
Nehemiah didn’t just see rubble—he felt the ache of a broken covenant. The shattered walls of Jerusalem mirrored the severed relationship between God and His beloved people. They had turned away from Him, chasing their own desires, and in doing so, were swept into captivity—stripped of freedom, taken to a land not their own.
This isn’t just history. It’s a warning to us. When we pull away from God and try to manage our pain alone, we often reach for things that feel comforting in the moment—habits, distractions, escapes. But those very things can become chains. What we thought would soothe us begins to rule us. The relief is fleeting. The ache returns stronger. And the cycle deepens.
These vices don’t heal; they numb. And when the numbness fades, we’re left with wounds that feel even more raw.
God doesn’t want us to live in exile—emotionally, spiritually, or relationally. He longs to rebuild what’s been torn down. But first, we must turn back to Him, not with shame, but with surrender. Because healing begins when we stop ignoring or hiding our pain and bring it to the One who can restore every broken place.
HE HEALS THE BROKEN-HEARTED
You may be familiar with the phrase: “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” And yet experience tells a different story. Words can leave deep impressions—especially when spoken by someone close to us. Unlike physical injuries that tend to heal over time, verbal wounds often linger, quietly shaping how we perceive ourselves and how we interact with others.
Often, those who speak from a place of pain do so not out of intent to harm, but because they themselves are carrying unresolved hurt. That’s why healing is important. Without it, pain can be passed along, shaping relationships and responses in subtle but significant ways.
God’s Spirit brings restoration. He offers freedom and renewal—not just for the broken-hearted, but for anyone seeking peace beyond temporary relief.
Jesus came with a clear purpose: to bring healing to the brokenhearted. His mission wasn’t just to comfort, but to restore—to take what’s been fractured and transform it into something whole and meaningful.
“The Sovereign Lord has filled me with His Spirit. He has chosen me and sent me to bring good news to the poor, to heal the broken-hearted, to announce release to captives…” Isaiah 61:1 (GNT)
The term brokenhearted in this passage refers to “something crushed, or shattered into pieces.” When a bone is crushed, it may seem beyond repair—but with skilled hands, precise care, and time, restoration is possible. Surgeons use grafts, plates, and steady attention to rebuild what was lost, and the body begins to heal.
Emotional wounds follow a similar pattern. Painful experiences—whether through words, betrayal, or trauma—can leave us feeling fragmented. Yet healing is available. When we invite Jesus into those broken places, He doesn’t simply cover the damage; He begins a deeper work of restoration. Truth replaces distortion, grace eases resentment, and love rebuilds what was torn down.
Just as crushed bones require intentional care, so do crushed spirits. Healing takes time, support, and a willingness to surrender. But with God, restoration isn’t just possible—it’s promised.
“The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.” Psalm 34:18 (NLT)
BEAUTY FOR ASHES
“To all who mourn in Israel, he will give beauty for ashes, joy instead of mourning, praise instead of despair. For the LORD has planted them like strong and graceful oaks for his own glory.” (Isaiah 61:3 NLT)
When Nehemiah began his work in Jerusalem, he did not build a brand-new wall; he rebuilt the original one with some of the same materials and stones that were lying among the ashes. Burned and charred as they were, the stones were still usable. And so, it is with us! There are many things in our lives that God wants to recover and reuse. (Romans 8:28)
David said in Psalm 5:3, “…Every morning I lay out the pieces of my life on the altar and wait for your fire to fall upon my heart.” (TPT)
This is no passive ritual—it’s a powerful act of surrender. Every morning, we bring our brokenness before the Lord, not for repair, but for transformation. God doesn’t simply glue the pieces back together. He consumes them in the fire of His holiness and forges something entirely new—stronger, purposed, and filled with grace. This is the divine process of restoration. It’s bold. It’s holy. It’s life-altering.
Pain has a purpose—it drives us to the Cross. And at the Cross, we don’t just find comfort; we encounter the Redeemer. Jesus doesn’t offer a temporary fix. He offers wholeness. He turns shattered lives into testimonies of grace, and broken hearts into vessels of healing.
If you’re still carrying wounds from the past, don’t hold onto them another moment. Bring them to the Lord in prayer. Lay them down, and let Him rebuild your life His way! Trade the ashes of disappointment for the beauty only He can give. Receive the oil of joy in place of mourning, and let Him lift the weight of despair. What you cannot fix on your own, He is fully able to redeem.
And if you need support—whether through wise counsel, professional help, or trusted community—seek it with purpose. Pursuing healing is not weakness; it’s wisdom. And once the Lord transforms your pain, you’ll find strength not only for yourself, but for others walking the same road. You’ll carry comfort, not just scars. And your story will become a source of inspiration and hope for others. (2 Corinthians 1:4)
In His Loving Name,
Life With Father Ministries
RETURN TO ME
“This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: ‘Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength. But you would have none of it.’” Isaiah 30:15 (NLT)
To return here means to “give an answer.” The Lord is calling—and all He asks is that you answer. That response begins by stepping away from what’s consuming and quietly eroding your inner life, and turning toward the One who restores, heals, and renews.
If you’re unsure where you’ll spend eternity, now is the time to settle that question. There are only two destinations—either with Jesus or without Him. Don’t delay. Today can be the day your future becomes secure. With a sincere heart, you can pray and receive the gift of eternal salvation. God isn’t asking for perfection—He’s asking for your yes.
PRAYER FOR SALVATION
Dear Jesus, I acknowledge that I am a sinner and I need forgiveness. (Romans 6:23) Jesus, you took my place and died on the Cross. Today, I accept your gift of sacrifice on the Cross as payment for my sins. I ask you to forgive me of all wrong, come into my heart, and begin the work of restoration in my life. Help me to forgive and release those who have hurt me in the past. Teach me how to live a life of surrender. Guide me now so that I can live pleasing to you. Amen.