I don't know many people who wouldn't say that sometimes life is hard.

Each of us struggles with our own problems, many times unknown to those

around us. We become very good at hiding the hurt and disappointment we

feel. We keep to ourselves those things that we feel others might think

are weaknesses or flaws in our lives or our characters.

Sometimes life is even more difficult than just dealing with our personal

inadequacies. Sometimes our lives are broken by others. They may hurt us

physically or emotionally, those we love may die and leave us alone. It

may be that the one we had hoped would love and protect us, doesn't! They

may ignore us or even leave us for someone else. Our lives or perhaps our

hearts are broken; damaged by some thing, some one, or some happening.

Lives can become broken in many ways, and I surely don't know or

understand all of them.

So, how do you fix a broken life? Someone put it this way, "To fix a

broken life, use the tools of the heart." Paul writing to the church in

Galatia had this to say, in Galatians 6:2, "Bear ye one another’s burdens,

and so fulfill the law of Christ," (KJV). A modern translation puts it

this way, "Take on yourselves one another’s troubles, and so keep the law

of Christ." (BBE) The word translated as "bear" in the Greek has a more

literal translation of, "to sustain, uphold, or support." Paul writing in

Romans 12:8 says that some people have the "gift" of being able to

encourage others. Could that be your gift?

Sometimes people will say, "I just can't do anything to serve God or His

church." Can you encourage others? Can you send cards, make calls, just

let someone know that you are thinking of them?

Paul tells us that sharing one another's burdens is keeping the law of

Christ. What law? Jesus said in John 15:12, "My command is this: Love each

other as I have loved you." (NIV) One Greek source defines this "love" as

"to delight in the relationship." You see, you are one of the "Tools of

the heart". You are God's hands here on earth!

How do you fix a broken or damaged life? You do what you can and use what

you have to minister to, encourage, lift up, help, or bear burdens for

others!

Maybe you are one who has a broken or damaged life. Maybe you are

struggling, because you don't think that anyone really understands or can

make it better. You may be right when you look at our meager attempts as

fellow human beings to help you. We may not be able to understand enough,

we may not be able to take away the hurt, but we have the promise that

there is one who can. We have one who can feel and understand no matter

what has broken us. The writer of Hebrews draws an encouraging picture

with his words of the one who can understand and lift us up when no one

else can. "Having then a great high priest, who has made his way through

the heavens, even Jesus the Son of God, let us be strong in our faith. For

we have not a high priest who is not able to be touched by the feelings of

our feeble flesh; but we have one who has been tested in all points as we

ourselves are tested, but without sin. Then let us come near to the seat

of grace without fear, so that mercy may be given to us, and we may get

grace for our help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:14-16, BBE)

Are you struggling with a broken life? You have three choices that I can

see.

Try to struggle through it all by yourself and deal with the pain, heartache or loss by yourself

Share with others of like faith and let them help lift the burden.

Come near the seat of Grace, (Jesus Christ) and get help in our time of need."

My prayer is that God will grant you Wisdom, Grace and Peace!