“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” -Psalm 34:18

We've all had our hearts broken in one way or another. Whether it breaks for someone you care about, for this world, or was broken by a family member, friend, or in my case the one you thought was the love of your life... Whatever form of a broken heart you've had, I know and understand how much it hurts and you just want an instant fix. Maybe this broken heart you experienced or are experiencing isn't something that needs to be fixed, but solely something you need to go through to become the person God knows and intends for you to be.The reality is this heartbreak is happening for a reason, and I promise, if you allow God to, He WILL use it for something better than you could ever imagine or begin to comprehend. He will use this brokenness to shape and mold you, like a potter shaping a piece of clay into a beautiful masterpiece and let me tell you, He surely did that for me and the things He taught and revealed to me still leave me in awe.

“But now, O LORD, You are our Father, We are the clay, and You our potter; and all of us are the work of Your hand.”- Isaiah 64:8

Through my Broken Heart the Lord Showed me:

My priorities were wrong...so so very wrong:

It wasn't until after the end of a long-term relationship and a broken heart that the Lord revealed to me how wrong my priorities had been. Throughout the relationship I was consumed by this guy. When I'd see him, what I could do for him, how I could be the best girlfriend, and the list goes on. It got to the point where I would push off my quiet time with the Lord and replace it with a Skype call to him or instead of church on Sunday I would choose Netflix and lounging with him instead.I admit it, I idolized and worshiped him and the relationship. He became my number one priority in my life rather than HIM. When the Lord revealed and gave me clarity about this I immediately reassessed myself, making it a goal that with each day the priority would and will be God. This was no easy task, it took time to straighten out and it is a process I go through each day. I have to evaluate myself, taking into consideration if what I’m doing or saying is keeping Him as the main focus.The verse from Philippians 3:14 is a daily reminder in helping to maintain this. It encourages me to keep running the good race of life, striving towards Christ and keeping Him the main focus no matter what the world tries to distract me with. “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus”.

I was taught and continue to be taught patience:

I am an impatient person. It's something that has always been a struggle for me and is something I pray about often. One of the most difficult things for me regarding patience is when it comes to relationships. No matter the type of relationship I always want it to grow and develop quickly in MY timing and consisting of stability, trust, and love. You see all those things take time, nurture, and patience; all of which were things that weren't allowed in this past relationship resulting it being one of its many downfalls. Obviously, this guy wasn't the man of my dreams or the one whom God intended for me. It goes back to the whole aspect of waiting though. Right now I am completely unaware if I’ve met my future husband, but by giving up that control of always thinking I know best I have slowly developed better patience when it comes to relationships and life in general. I have learned to be patient with the Lords timing, remembering His plan and timing is always perfect down to the minuscule second.So I wait and continue to cling to patience as the Lord prepares my heart and my future spouse’s heart for the moment He allows him to pursue me.

Helped me learn what I want and don’t want in a future spouse:

When my heart was broken, my mind was filled with all the reasons why 'we should still be together’ but as time and healing came the Lord showed me the reasons why ‘we shouldn’t be together'. I came to realize qualities I want in a future spouse and don’t want. It has also allowed me to be aware of the ‘red flags’ that may have come about when I have considered getting into a relationship again. I personally think it's healthy to know what you desire within your future spouse and being aware of the things that you've learned from past relationships that you don't want in your significant other. This knowledge should be used in a cautious way, not necessarily living by it like it's the law, but having awareness about it. From my past relationship, there were many red flags I would have never caught or seen if my heart hadn't been broken, such as how unhealthy it was to both of us and to our personal walks and relationships with Christ. Looking at this relationship with a different perspective, outside looking in, encouraged me to make a mental list of the qualities and characteristics I find admirable and important and red flags to be cautious of.

You are Loved, Valuable, and Enough:

A broken heart from any relationship can leave one questioning whether they’re truly loved, enough, or even valuable.This thinking can begin to internalize the lies and this is exactly what began to happen to me. But then the Lord wrapped me up in His arms reminding me through prayer, scriptures, and the use of others speaking His truth into my life; that the reality of it all is I am LOVED, I am of VALUE, I am WORTHY, and I am ENOUGH through Christ! And my wonderful brothers and sisters hear me when I say, YOU my dear are loved, worthy, valuable, and enough. No matter what you may have done in the past or the things that are to be done; through Christ and His love you are considered these.So do not believe the thoughts and lies that may be circulating through your mind, hang tight and cling to the Lords truths and the knowledge that we are loved, valued, worthy and enough (read Matthew 10:29-31).