Spiritual advice for the broken hearted?

I am kinda in a blue funk i guess. As a Christian I know we all get there sometimes but for me its been a long time being here and I can't seem to get out.


Nothing I pray for comes to pass for me. Everything I try for fails. It's like I am watching all my hopes and dreams slip through my fingers. I don't know what to pray for anymore because my hearts desires which is just for the basics of life (a nice home, wife, kids) is all I know to go after in life. It's not like God is calling me to do anything else so I don't understand why I can't get out of this hole im in.


I know a great part of my depression is the pills I have to take. I have had 6 back surgeries and stay in constant pain every moment of every day. So i take a lot of pain pills.. I know this is compounding my problems.. but honestly I just want to give up.. I am so tired.





I know I am going to get some stupid comments to this and I am willing to risk it just to hope I can get at least one comment that makes sense. So all you jerks out there that feel the need to laugh at me or make a stupid comment go for it. I am glad my pain can provide you with some quick laughs but remember this.. one day you to will be in your own hole and I hope its a deep one if your here to laugh and make fun of others. Sorry for ranting but I know what to expect from the mass majority of people on here. But I also know there are some good hearted people here that want to give some good advice. I just hope your the one that comments to me.





ThanksSpiritual advice for the broken hearted?
God heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds (Psalm 147:3)





Consider the prophet Jeremiah. He had one of the toughest God-give assignments ever. It was quite depressing for him because nobody listened. His life was even in mortal danger. Yet he could confidently pray to God, ';Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed. Save me and I shall be saved, for thou art my praise.'; (Jeremiah 17:14)





I'd just encourage you to home in on the praise bit. Our God inhabits praise. (Psalm 22:3) He sits enthroned on praise! Can you find it in your broken heart to praise God irrespective of how you are feeling, and regardless of how you feel about your prayers apparently not being answered? There's a haunting hymn that has the lines:





';And whether our tomorrows be good or filled with ill,


We'll triumph through our sorrows and rise to bless you still.';





Almost impossibly difficult words to say, I'm sure you would agree, yet for those who can do it, a corner is turned and they can put their feelings and doubts behind them, looking upwards. Please concentrate on praising your maker, then just see what happens!Spiritual advice for the broken hearted?
My advice is more practical than spiritual. Deal with your pain and general health, and when that improves, other good things will follow. Talk to your doctor about changing your medication. Be hopeful and know that your pain will improve a little each day. I have been there friend and it will get better.
I am sorry that you are in pain and had so many back surgeries. The problem with pains are that they harden your heart and blur your thoughts.





Praying is powerful.





Sometimes pastors in hospitals or nurses have the ability to help you with praying. Ask your friends to.pray with you.


Bless you.
remember this ,,,the pain you feel ,, is really the depth of love you have to offer,,,,,and gave ,,and your lost with out it,,,, learn from it and your love will grow even stronger ,,,,,,,,and its your choice on how long it takes,,,,,,,,,Time is Time,,,,,That has No Time
I sure the problem you have is your heart empty of believe in Allah





may you and other don't believe in what I wrote, but I am sure any one believe in Allah and obey Him, will never, never suffer from such problem








http://www.islamtomorrow.com/
My true sympathies .. was in your position once. Through the darkness there is light and the world's oldest and most time-tested way to deal with suffering if only you have the courage to break free from dogma and embrace awakening. Read my profile for inspiration. Gluck
Keep in mind that the Christians that came before you were fed to lions, burned alive, tortured and crucified.





I'm sure your life is a walk in the park compared to them.





Pick up your cross and soldier on.
Sorry to read of your hardships.





I hope things get better for you and you can at least live the rest of your life pain free and happier.
I am terribly sorry for your struggles. I too deal with physical (and mental) health problems on a daily basis and know just how impossible it seems to stay in good spirits.





I am not religious, however, and I'm afraid I cannot offer any spiritual guidance. Perhaps you can speak with a clergy member? There may be a church group you can join if you feel you need a boost from fellow Christians.





I strongly advise you visit with a counselor or psychiatrist. I know some people can be a bit intimidated or offended by this suggestion, but there's not harm in trying! A counselor will listen to you vent and suggest things that will help you incorporate positive thinking in your daily life.





There may be some who answer this question implying that your religion is the cause of your trouble. All I can say to that is BULLSH*T. This is a case of mental health; adopting or ditching a spiritual belief is not a cure-all in any situation. On a side note, if you are questioning your faith, I encourage you to do what you feel makes the most sense, not what anyone else tells you to.





I wish you the best. Don't give up now, things can get better you just have to make an effort. :)
My advice would be to stop praying and expecting something to happen. The world doesn't work like that. Essentially you have to take some measure of responsibility and set out on achieving your goals on your own. It might not be the easiest option, but it will work if you simply try.





We're talking wishing vs doing.
Hi, Tim. I'm so sorry to hear about your difficulties. I can't claim to know exactly what all you're going through, but I certainly have undergone suffering at one time or another, including some that continues to cause me physical pain at this time.





One book that has been a great help to me during this time is The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment, by Jeremiah Burroughs. You should be able to get a copy on Amazon for next to nothing, or can probably read it online as it is rather old.





In the short space and time available here, I would just urge you to make the Lord the focus and goal of your life, rather than yourself. Even those basic things, the nice house, wife and kids, are never promised to any man. We have all forfeited any right to God's care, protection or blessing by our sin. Only through Christ's death can be declared right in God's eyes, and come to him as children to a Father, for the things we need and desire. I'm sure you know this already. But I suspect one reason you may not be happy is that your desires are too small. Not speaking from an earthly perspective: I don't mean you should be expecting a mansion instead of a small house. But it seems your mind, your desires, your focus are all on yourself. Look to God's Word and to God Himself. He has promised that if we seek first His kingdom, all the other things will be added to us–the things that are needed. What is pleasing to God? What things does God deserve? Are His honor and glory important to you?





Thomas Jonathan Jackson was a soldier, a teacher at the Virginia Military Institute, a general and a devout Christian. He taught artillery at VMI, and one day he was out with his students and the cannon when it began to pour rain. The students were afraid of dirtying their uniforms, as this could get them in trouble. En masse, they ran for the shelter of the buildings. When they reached the buildings, they looked out of the windows and alcoves and saw Jackson standing ramrod straight in the middle of the field, in the pouring rain. He stayed like that the entire hour, till the class was over. He did so, because it was his duty to be there during that hour. This was before he gained the nickname ';Stonewall Jackson'; for his fearlessness in battle. His sense of duty was tied to his Christian character. He said: Duty is ours, consequences are God's. When a battle would cost him his arm, and fever and pain were slowly killing him, his response was that he could be content to lie there for a thousand years, if it pleased the Lord, and by doing so he could glorify Him.





';My religious belief teaches me to feel as safe in battle as in bed. God has fixed the time for my death. I do not concern myself about that, but to always be ready, no matter when it may overtake me. This is the way all men should live, and then all men should be equally brave.';


-Thomas Jackson





Never take counsel of your fears
Sucks. It's always worst just before it gets better though.


I think it's a basic law of the universe that when that feeling comes and everything is just saying 'give up' then you are almost there. Happens to me every time and I've seen so many people give up on the verge of success, often in situations where I've been working or travelling with them and they've turned around and given up and I've kept going. The result being that i've only put in that tiny bit extra effort and reached the goal whereas they've got nothing and put in almost exactly the same. I swear it's a rule of life.





Just complete whatever it is you're going through. You can do it.
I know how a broken heart feels.. it sometimes seems to dominate everything in your life. Yes, you can feel a broken heart just like you can feel being hit in the chest. It physically and emotionally hurts.





Understand your not alone. So many people all around us even past their smiles hurt in some form or another. Or they are angry or frustrated and want to just give up. You must push through this and know that there are many people who care about you. Go to them and do not be ashamed to sit them down and spill your heart out. But mainly this, cast thy burdens upon the Lord for he cares for you.


Though at times you don't think God cares or listens, he does.. You've helped others so now go and find some relief for yourself. Do not stop trying but push on to the prize of the higher calling.





Peace be with you friend and I to will be praying for you.
The easiest thing to do in life is to simply give up trying.





2 Corinthians 12:10 (New International Version)


10That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.





Life is not easy and no one ever said it would be, we all have problems. But we have to keep trying to do our best and to keep on going. Satan wants exactly that, taht you give up for he delights when we fall. It is our job to keep on going remember





1 Corinthians 9:24 (New International Version)





24Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
Well, I can understand how you can feel so depressed. In wanting a wife, kids and a home, you are only seeking the kinds of things man naturally wants, and needs, in the basics of life, and to have no escape from such back pain must be a constant grief for you. Kind of questions whether you'll ever have what your heart desires. No doubt you are pondering this well.





That said, the positive thing is that you're a Christian and I still get the feeling from your writing that your faith is intact. Like, you cling onto God, because you've not got much else. Well, good for you!





You are asking us for advice, but where's your Pastor in all this? Even as one who's come out of 'organised religion' I do recognize that we Christians all need pastoring from from time to time. What is the Body of Christ currently ministering to you? Or are you a spiritual loner? It sounds like it, if you are looking for help and advice from us.





Well, my first advice is, you need Christian friends, those who can support you emotionally and spiritually and just be there for you. You should not have to carry this burden all on your own. It is not God's will, for 'he sets the solitary in families' (Ps68:6).





I don't know why God is not answering your prayers, but have you considered seeking healing through the laying-on of hands? I mean, don't go to some crackpot evangelist, go to a down-to-earth - just 'ordinary' - Christian, someone you really respect who knows his God, and ask him to lay his hands on you and pray.





I say this because my husband had back trouble, through arthritis, years ago and he went to a specialist who advised an operation to fuse several of the spine vertebrae together. I felt very uneasy about this and was very unhappy with what seemed to me to be 'meddling' with my husband's spine. Instead, one night, at the end of my spiritual tether, I said to him that I was going to lay my hands on him and ask for God's healing, every night, until God answered.





Now, any Christian can do this - pray for healing (Mk16:18) - it is within our 'remit'. And, I reasoned, we can but ask, there's no harm in that. If the Father says 'no' then that's his affair, but as I saw it, if you don't ask you don't get. Yes, my business was to ask.





So, I determined to ask, and when I did, I reminded God about his Son Jesus, who died for us on the cross and now sits at the Father's right hand in heaven, giving the Holy Spirit to him that asks. Within a short time, my husband had no further pain, and has remained so to this day.





Well, try prayer for healing, as I said, we can but ask. Then the ball's 'in God's court' as I see it.





I don't know how young or how old you are, but one thing does come to me, that you seem to be quite a deep thinker. Like, you are looking out at the world, having considered it well, and also your own circumstances well, too. Some wisdom and objectivity is getting in there.





You say 'I can't understand why I can't get out of this hole I'm in'. Well, does it really make a difference, whether or not you understand? Will understanding get you out of the hole? The fact is, you're in this problem - God knows why - and what're you going to do about it now?





Stop trying to figure out why. Did it do Job any good? Did he have any idea that his misfortunes were to do with a conversation God had with the evil one one day in heaven? How should he know, unless it had been supernaturally revealed? For, the simple fact was that, at the time he was going through his traumas, he was not given to know.





I suppose it's the same with you. So, I reckon it would be better for you to just accept whatever has come to you and leave the rest to God. Refuse to fret, and thereby waste more precious emotional energy. Just leave the problem of it with him, in his hands, because there's so little you know, and so much more he knows, when all is said and done.





I'm not saying to be resigned, or to be fatalistic, like 'God's persecuting me' type thing. No, this is a strong thing, that you consciously put your circumstances back into God's hands and refuse to fret and blame him and get negative over what you have no control over, only he has. In other words, quiet yourself and wait on him, believing that, for all your suffering and disappointments, yet he is always there for you, has never left you nor deserted you. Indeed, in the the Holy Spirit, he also suffers with you.





Seek his healing, but determine to live in the meanwhile at peace with God, not forever asking why (for many people in this world suffer, not just you, and is God answerable to man?), but trusting that your God sees all, feels all and knows all and is in charge of your way and all of your life.





All I can say is that God works in every person's life in a different way. Some have to suffer more than others and we could wish it otherwise. However, all of us, without exception, learn through pain and suffering things that we would otherwise never learn and go places where we would otherwise never go, spiritually. Not all people are called to such things, but God must let 'a little rainfall' fall into all our lives, in his attempts to fashion us into the image of his Son.





So, not everyone is called to this, or has to suffer to this degree, God knows. But think about all the suffering in the world, and you will see the terrible things man has to suffer - sometimes far worse than you - and you will see that you are not alone in this hard world we live in.





It is better to turn on a light, rather than curse the darkness. So, learn your lessons in God's school and determine never to blame or reproach God for the way things are. That way your spirit will become sweet and your life malleable under his hands and bitterness will not gain a hold.





Also, do not limit Him, for our God is able to do many great things, and you know so little of what he is able to do, and will do, in your future. So, continue to look to him in faith.





Go step by step, moment by moment, day by day, always trusting in Him, for only from Him can your deliverance come.