I talk often about how imperfect life is. Sometimes with all the beautiful photos we put up on our blogs, it’s easy to think that someone’s life is perfect or charmed. And while I’m surrounded by so many blessings, I’m also surrounded by so much brokenness.
I have a friend who’s struggling with depression, another who is facing infertility, a friend who was in a horrible car accident and the marriage of some close friends is crumbling around them. Brokenness is everywhere.
Meanwhile in my own life I’m caring for a ten-year-old who still has to be diapered, fed and given medication three times a day. He is also tons of fun, super silly and the best snuggle bug, but the drain that comes from meeting his needs day in and day out is real. Not to mention all of the other responsibilities that fill up my day.
I look around me and I see all this brokenness—but what’s even harder for me to look at is the brokenness in my own heart. I am self-centered, prone to fatigue, and sometimes discouraged. I think I’m doing just fine, being productive and full of energy, when all of a sudden I feel angry and resentful.
Isn’t this the stuff of life? The comfort of the mundane can drive us to insanity. The joys of being a mother are overshadowed by feelings of failure. And the beauty of a new day is clouded by a long to-do list.
I am broken. I am needy. I can’t fix myself. That’s where I see the incredible beauty of God’s grace. There is hope in that broken and needy place.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
~ Psalm 34:18
This is the heart of my faith collection. Lisa Leonard Designs and DaySpring have teamed up to offer you these gorgeous, handmade pieces. If you’re Christmas shopping for a sister or friend, check out these pieces. I hope they are as meaningful to you as they are to me!
Are you feeling broken? Let’s pray for each other today. Leave a comment and let us know where you can use courage or grace, then pray for the person who commented before you.
Lisa,
I am crying as I read the words that the Lord is close to the brokenhearted…my spirit is crushed by my son’s rebellious ways. I left a comment yesterday and some beautiful women prayed for me and gave me peace. My son is in such a dark and hurting place and is lashing out at those closest to him. Please pray that God would capture his heart and bring him to the place where he knows he needs a Savior and that I would be able to trust God to take care of His child – my son.
Thank you,
Bev
Bev, I am a strong believer in God’s perfect timing and the way He orchestrates life around us. I was typing my comment and submitted and then found yours. We were pouring out our hearts simultaneously. My heart is joined with yours as I know too well the struggle with a rebellious son. Still waiting for a complete homecoming for his heart even tho it is better than it once was. Father, I bring to you my sister, Bev, who is pouring her heart out before You for the life of her son. Bring her your peace and your courage as You work out your plan. Remove all fear and anxiety as she waits on you with the faith and trust she has in your power and never ending love. I thank you for Bev and the way she shares this journey with so many. In Jesus our Savior I pray. AMEN.
Bev,
My prayer today was for my daughter who is in that same place as your son. I pray for peace for you and your family. I pray for your son to come to know that God will love him and be there no matter what. I pray for you as a mother because I know the pain of heart break. I pray that the Lord brings your family together. Father, I pray that Bev has peace in her heart because she knows you can and will always be there for her. Father take these broken pieces and bless each one.
Amen
Thank you all for your heartfelt prayers…it means the world to me!
Bev
Bev, thank you for exposing your raw yet beautiful heart before us and the Lord. I can identify with part of your story and my heart synchronizes with your pain over your son. The Lord has been a lifter of my eyes and the One that has filled my heart with a greater joy, as I, too, await homecoming of a few of my 5 children. As I opened my hands repeatedly to the Lord, laying down those that I have held so dearly to my heart, he has given me more of Himself. Months would go by and my tears would stain everything around me, but those very tears kept my heart soft and moldable. Although He was near, he felt far, too. God has given me eyes to see through, to see in, to see glory in the now. I hold my son with grace-filled arms and the love of Christ surging through my heart to his. My heart was empty, but God poured himself into me and gave me hope, in Him, alone. That has been amazingly enough to help me to wait upon the Lord for His grace-filled timing and reconciliation of my older children to the heart of God. Prayed for you…may the Lord astound you with his glorious presence. may he fill you with the joy of your salvation, that brings a smile from the inside out and can not be contained. May He lift your eyes to see His glory in all the broken minutes of this life.
Much love from His heart,
Terry
Thank you Terry…this was beautiful and a balm to my soul!! Always, Bev
Bev,
Prayers for you and your son. In God’s perfect timing He will turn him around and bring him back to you. He can and will do a “heart transplant” on your beloved son. Remember He loves your son as much or more than you–for he left Heaven and came to sinful earth and died a horrible death on the cross just for us (him).
Blessed Lord Jesus,
Please give Bev’s son a “heart transplant”. Help him to come out of the darkness and into the light of your love. Deliver him from the evil one and put a calm, peaceful spirit in him.
AMEN!
Definitely feeling broken, weary beyond words. Physically, emotionally, and spiritually. A sense of failure and never being enough haunt me regularly and then a sense of guilt or fear because I believe in a wonderfully loving and mighty God, so how can I still be in this place of discouragement. I want to live with the confidence and joy that comes in being Christ-filled. He IS my ROCK, my JOY, my ALL. I get in the way.
Melanie,
I am praying for you and thank you so much for your sweet prayers. Your prayer request beckons us both to “come to me all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.” In Christ you are enough. I pray that the enemy that haunts you would flee from your door at the sound of Jesus’ name. Know that we all get in the way, but God is greater still. You are fearfully and wonderfully made and God loves you with an infinite love…just because He made you! You are a treasure, a jewel, His beloved child. Praying that you may come to know these truths.
Love,
Bev
Praying for you Melanie! I have felt broken for some time now. A few years ago he laid on my husband and I’s heart to start out family, to carry our child in my womb, and we tried. Unfortunately we have tried unsuccessfully for 4 years and many many tests. This past May we did conceive but we lost our angel baby through miscarriage. We are both broken and heavy hearted and with Christmas coming up there is also so much pain. Sometimes I don’t understand why he laid on our hearts to carry our child but has made it so hard while it seems so easy for everyone else. I know he has perfect timing and when it happens for us it will be some much more than we ever imagined. Please pray for us during this holiday season and pray that our prayers will be answered and that the stockings hanging from our fireplace will one day be filled. Thank you.
Shawnda, you are not alone. There are many many other who struggle in this way. I am one of them. We are not conceiving and there is no clear reason for that. In this time of waiting during the advent I focus on hope and what that means. I may not mean we get the desires of our heart, but either way our hearts will be filled with Christ. The outcome will be good. I go through seasons of grieve, of not understanding, of desire, of pain… but I know I need to take this opportunity to press into God, no matter what. It’s a life time lesson. I feel with you, I really do, my heart understands your pain. We are not alone…
Today I am praying as I have been for the past few months for the faith & patience with my grown daughter. She is making some decisions that do not line up with God’s word & her raising. The whole family is in a state of turmoil and we are all brokenhearted. I pray for the right words, the right attitude, patience and mercy. Thank you for your prayers.
KY
I can so relate to most of your post. It’s so easy to look like you’ve got it all together. When really I’m crying and screaming inside. Thank you for sharing. It’s helpful to know we are not alone.
I pray and bless you Tracy that JESUS touches you daily with HIS hand and HIS LOVE especially this Christmas, a celebration of HIS birth. I bless you and pray you feel HIS heavenly touch all the time in JESUS’ great and mighty Name I pray, amen.
🙂
I’m feeling great and fine, myself but you are right. We are all broken really at some point of our lives.
I thank the LORD and praise HIS HOLY Name we are fine. My husband and me.
🙂
We moved to a new town for my husband’s job. The job didn’t come with a pay increase and we can’t make it here. We need to sell the house or get another job. We have one car and we worked so hard to do Dave Ramsey’s plan but with this change we are going backwards. My son has special needs and I am homeschooling. It is all so hard and I am not feeling a Christmas spirit. I just wish I could see how God is working in all of this. I’m terribly lonely here and frustrated that we are in a worse position than before. . . Thank you for whomever might read this and pray.
I have felt that way even though my situation is different from yours. Our wonderful Father in heaven can do so much more than we imagine. Praying for peace, joy, provision, wisdom and strength in these tough days.
Monica,
My prayers for you are that today and in the days ahead,a light will shine on you. I pray that your spirit will be lifted and that joy will return to your heart. And that your move will be a positive one for you.
Please know that although you are lonely, you are not alone.
Blessings to you and your family,
Penny
Dear Heavenly Father,
I just want to lift up Monica to you this morning. She is struggling Lord and I pray that she stays close to you and that you will bring her heart some peace. I pray Lord that you will guide their family with some decisions that need to be made financially. I pray that you will provide the way to make it through this difficult time. I pray that they feel your presence and your love as Christmas gets closer to us all. I pray you to feel that lonely feeling in her heart and I pray that you might put someone in her path that she may become close with here on Earth and always grow closer to you Lord. I thank you Lord for your Love and Grace, We pray all this in your name.
Amen
I do have so much to be thankful for today. But we are humans and we get down and worried about things. I am 4 months pregnant. I pray daily for a healthy baby. I have 9 year old and we are struggling with the battle of the wills. and with that comes so much doubt as a mother and guilt when I feel like I am failing. We have a family business that is struggling and bills that get piled up. I just pray for stability in that part of my life. I have friendships that are failing and have moments of loneliness. I pray that I can continue to grow in my relationship with the Lord.
Destiny,
So much of you reminds me of myself.
I pray that everything goes well for you and your newborn to be, for a safe and healthy term and delivery.
I pray that things improve with your business and that everything works out the way it is meant to be, for you and for your family.
Blessings to you and your family,
Penny
Father,
I lift up my sister Destiny to You Lord, You see all things from beginning to end, please bring Destiny peace and comfort in knowing that You hold her new baby’s life in Your ever-capable hands. Please ease all of her worries, remind her daily that You are the Sovereign Lord and we can trust that You will bless the fruit of her womb. Protect her from the lies of the enemy, for it is You who make her the Mom she needs to be, You have anointed her to care for these young souls. I pray that her family would prosper in everything they lay their hand to, that her relationships would grow in godliness and that Your Spirit would envelope her in a blanket of love, knowing that you are with her no matter what her feelings tell her.
Thank you Father, I believe we have what we have asked in the precious and holy name of Jesus.
Amen
Just what I needed to read at this very time! I feel such Brokenness but know that the Lord is ever close at hand and I only need to cry out to HIM and he is there to comfort me! That doesn’t mean I am not crying as I write this but it does mean I am NOT hopeless. God Bless and Thank you!
Heavenly Father,
I lift Lori up to You today, Father give Lori the peace that surpasses understanding, as she brings her burdens to You, wipe away her tears and remind her that You are her Defender and that she need only cry out to You and a host of angels come to her aid. Jesus,You came to mend the brokenhearted, so we cry out in agreement today that you bring healing to Lori’s hurting heart. We give You thanks for all You have done and all that you will do ~ Amen
Please pray for my husband and I. We are born again believers that struggle… my husband has some serious health issues and has opted to abuse alcohol to numb himself. He refuses to go for counseling, and I feel certain that’s because he knows that the alcohol is a problem and doesn’t want to quit.
I have done all I know to do, short of leaving him. And to be perfectly honest, I definitely don’t think that is God’s plan, as He has not provided any Scriptural basis for it.
God does, on the other hand, provide me with Scripture tom stay, such as Hebrews 12: 6,7 & 11… “the Lord disciplines those He loves… endure hardship as discipline… No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it “.
And then this morning there was Hebrews 12:14- 15 … “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many” – I am in this bitter place, and I am tired.
I try very hard not to be, I am a voracious feaster on the Word of God, and yet I have harbored these things in my heart and I have let my hope fail, I am so worn down and I feel trapped.
Forgive me for going on and on. I know in my heart that this is just selfishness, plain and simple, there are others who have so much more to deal with, I can’t seem find my way to the place where I can let go and just trust God to take care of the matter.
I truly appreciate your prayers
Suzanne
God, I lift up Suzanne to You. You say for all who are weary and burdened to come to You and You will give rest. I thank You that You have promised to carry and fight for Suzanne and that You love her with an everlasting love. I thank You that You are Faithful and True. I pray that You would give Suzanne Your peace and help her to rest in Your presence and trust You. I pray You would give her wisdom and the ability to let go and release her burdens to You. Please move in her husband’s heart in a way that he cannot deny is You. I pray that Your arms of comfort would surround Suzanne and her husband and that they would rest in Your loving embrace and keep their eyes fixed on You, knowing You will never leave or forsake them and that You hold their hand. Thank You for Your goodness and love. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
thank you sweet sister 🙂
Dear Heavenly Father, please wrap your loving arms around Suzanne and give her peace as she struggles in this relationship. Lord, please penetrate her husband’s heart and help him to recognize that he needs help. Please restore this family.
I am in need of prayer for a difficult relationship and a conversation that needs to take place. I am fearful and don’t know how to move forward. Praying for guidance, peace, and hope that surpasses understanding. Also for protection for my daughter.
That is what I love about my God, He is the GREATEST COMFORTER. He is able to feel when we are broken. He is a FRIEND OF THE WOUNDED HEART. He comforts me on EVERY LEVEL. What an AWESOME GOD. He is CONCERNED with EVERY DETAIL of our lives. Blessings
Lisa,
I’ve followed your blog and Instagram for many years, and I’ll admit, there have been times when I thought, “She’s just got everything together. Why can’t I be like her? Why can’t I be a mom and still have time to create, blog and capture moments like her?”
So when I read your post today, I sighed with relief. Praise God that we are all broken messes that He is constantly mending and growing and stretching. Thank God I’m not the only one who becomes overwhelmed by the insanity of motherhood and life altogether.
Please pray that in the midst of the chaos of life that I would press in to the joy that Jesus has placed in my heart. Pray that I would not depend on my circumstances to fulfill my joy. Pray that my husband and I would follow God’s leading as we raise our children and help develop and nurture them as He would have us do.
—
Jesus, I pray for Christina. I ask that you would give her confidence and the right words to say as she has a difficult conversation that needs to take place. I thank you that you have already given her a spirit of power, love and a sound mind. I also pray that your loving arms would protect her daughter. That she would know you are near and guarding every step she makes.
Hi Lisa,
The verse you quoted is very dear to me. It was spoken to me by some friends with a child with disabilities when my daughter with Down Syndrome was born. It was so comforting to me to be understood and strengthened by this dear brother and sister. What an amazing God we have, He is able to use such muddy, broken people to reach out and touch us with His love. And He has used you to touch my heart today. Thank you for not letting your own feelings of unworthiness stop you from glorifying your Heavenly Father. You’ve strengthened me to do the same.
Blessings on you…till we meet one day. 🙂
And Christina, I pray for you in the decision and difficult conversation you have, that you might rely on God’s wisdom. May your fears be cast out by God’s perfect love for you and all those around you. And I pray for your daughter, that God’s will would be worked out in her life and she too would find refuge in God’s love and strength. Blessings… ’til we meet one day. 🙂
I don’t have any children at home. My struggle is with a self-centered, selfish and a bit of a narcisist spouse. Please pray that God would use this to bring glory and honor to Him. My heart is so very heavy right now.
Hello everyone,
Sarah I am praying your hearts desire to press in to Jesus, recognizing where your joy comes from, the godly leading of your husband and you with the children. May God’s will be present in your family.
Pls pray for me, I am standing for my marriage. My h had been separated from me since May of 2010. Christmas 2010 we did spend together with our adult children. My h has settled in to his prodigal, so last Christmas though he was invited to,our hm, he chose to be alone. This yr, our first born is married and will,celebrate Christmas w/ his wife’s family. Our youngest is married and lives in Al, they will celebrate with her husband’s family. Our middle one lives in Colorado. My h their daddy will fly there to be with our son. I will be alone. Married 33 yrs, we have no parents left now, I have no siblings, the only living BIL/SIL live in SC. Pray for our reconciliation. I know God can and will restore our marriage and family. Pray I will rest in joy with spending Christmas just with Jesus. This may be the last year Imwill be alone with Jesus. I wait in expectation of our restoration suddenly, daily.
Marilyn,
This is also my first Christmas since I’ve been separated, after 18 years of marriage. My children are still at home and my husband will be with us on christmas morning to watch the children open presents. But, I feel alone. I am lonely. I pray that Jesus will wrap his arms around both of us and we will feel HIS love and that he will be the lover of our souls. I don’t believe there is hope for my marriage, then I remind myself that He is bigger than I can imagine. So I also pray for the restoration of our marriages. Bless you Marilyn!
I am in a season of letting God minister to my brokenness. I have to allow myself to be vulnerable which is so hard for me. I am going through intense therapy for childhood sexual abuse and depression. I am grieving loss of living family members, and the death of three family members this year. Please pray for my husband and children as we cling to our family unit during this season.
Melinda,
God comes to us in the brokenness…in the dark places that no one thinks to look for Him, or us. Welcome the baby Jesus at Christmas…hold Him in your heart and hold your own wee child….I too was a victim of sexual abuse as a child by a close family member…starting at 4 and right at Christmas time.
Invite Jesus to walk with you during your therapy sessions…and just that the Greatest healer is Jesus and the Greatest Gift is Him.
I make a promise to you that I will never stop praying for you and your family.
I also lost my closest friend recently and my Mom died at this time of year..
Lean into Jesus….let Him hold you and Trust that He will never hurt you.
Lisa, I received my Eucharisteo bracelet yesterday and it is beautiful!
Each time that I place it on my wrist, I will be praying for you and your family, especially your son
Everything is Grace,
Colleen
Merry Christmas!
Melinda, Praise God for your willingness to go through what you need to go through. The road of therapy is the hardest one for sure, I speak from experience but I do want to say, it is the absolute best way. I pray God will be ever so close and that in the end you will say ‘it was worth it, God was faithful’. I do pray that your family clings together this season, blessings upon you all. My heart is with you!
I come today feeling completely broken and utterly alone. I KNOW God strengthens the broken hearted but I am so depressed I can’t even feel God. I have no Christmas spirit. Instead, I have an 11 year old boy that is sucking the joy out of being a mother. I had major ankle surgery just before thanksgiving and had prepared him for the surgery but none of us expected the toll the recovery would take. He is angry and hateful, spiteful and disrespectful. I am lost and confused, broken and depressed. I am tired and just done in. He has become so much to handle. I just can’t do it anymore. I don’t even feel like doing Christmas for him as hateful as he is being. I feel like I have been sucked into a very dark hole and can’t get out.
I would pray for everyone before me but God seems to be ignoring my prayers.
Bonnie
Oh, Bonnie…I thought I was the only person in the world who felt the things you feel!! My son is 10 and is exactly as you’ve described your son. My mom raised six children and was always my go-to person when I felt like giving up, but she passed away in September, and I am lost without her. Finances are not good right now so getting him anything for Christmas is difficult, but it becomes even more so when it feels like he doesn’t deserve it. I wish I could give you a big hug and tell you that you’re going to make it and that everything is going to be okay, but I can’t. Just know that I and many, many others are praying for you.
Oh Bonnie,
I scrolled down while thinking “If she’s the last comment…what should I say?!”
So, my dear sister. Before I’ll bring you to the throne of Grace, I wanna give you the feeling of a great and long hug. Beloved sister, I know the feeling of being alone and totally depressed. I really know it. It was hard to believe that Jesus would take my whole bad feelings. But when I came to Him He gave me such a great peace that I never felt this again. And now, my sweet One… I pray for you that our Lord fills your heart with His peace, with His never ending love, with His power and with His strange. He will help you to stand this storm BECAUSE HE LOVES YOU LIKE NO ONE ELSE EVER CAN!!! He will comfort you! And I know He will Do it! Please believe!!
I’m praying for all your desperate and hard circumstances! Feel hugged!!!! :**
Don’t want to write anything you could pray for me. Instead of it I ask you to pray for Bonnie too.
Be blessed
Dear Lord- Please PLEASE hear the cries of Bonnie and her son…Please give her the HUG and a shoulder to cry on right now. I know its hard Bonnie but IT DOES GET BETTER….I honestly believe your son takes his anger out on you because you are his rock, his one thing that WILL NOT turn from him no matter what..LIKE God.. NO MATTER how selfish, mean and just plain ugly we get God is always there with a warm HUG and a smile..so HERE is a ((((HUG))) AND smile 🙂 Bonnie…There will always be rough days…just continue to pray to God..he DOES hear you PLEASE please don’t give up.
Lisa- i LOVE all your jewelry, while i don’t currently own any pieces i like to go to the “virtual” store and look…KEEP IT UP..it all looks lovely
Oh dear Bonnie, no God hears you, you are not, have not been forgotten. God is never to busy in, with so many daily prayer request that He would not pay attention to you. You are so very loved by God, it is often when we feel so deserted that He is actually very busy preparing that request behind the scenes. Tell me Honey will you regret not doing Christmas, with, for your son, Honey do it for the Lord and leave the results in His loving, faithful hands. It is in our brokenesss that God gets to comfort us, in retrospect we will know He was holding us and carried us through. I pray you rest well in the comfort of His arms and patiently wait, for His timing is perfect, His amazing grace. Look up, look forward, and know you are very, very. Loved. God bless you, keep you, shine His light upon you. Shalom, Shalom. Amen.
Rosie, Kelly and Deborah…..while you are busy praying for Bonnie I will be busy praying for the three of you. God knows your needs and is meeting them as I write. May you feel His presence this Christmas season and have joy in the New Year.
Life is often so difficult now, since a chronic illness, pain, and disability have entered our lives. I cannot imagine facing it all without the Light of God’s presence reminding me daily that He is here and He listens and He cares. Even then, it’s hard not to feel broken, damaged, and sometimes worthless (on the days when the enemy shouts).
I am praying for everyone who has commented here, and I thank you for any prayers on my behalf. Thank you for this post, your beautiful jewelry, and this opportunity to pray for each other.
Heart Hugs, Shelly <3
Beautiful.
It all seems so overwhelming! We are pulled from every corner – as moms, wives, workers, friends, volunteers,…and daughters of the Perfect God. That last role comes at the end of my list, not because it is the least important, but because its the last role I remember, while it should be the first!
Why is it so hard for us to remember that we are taken care of, that Our Father provides our every need (not our every want?) All these (paraphrased) scriptures come to mind while I sit relaxed…
– Be still and know that I am God. – The birds of the air and flowers of the field are taken care of, why should I doubt even better things will come to me from My Father? – God’s ways are Higher than my ways and His thoughts higher than my thoughts. – Give us this day our daily bread. – Let us never grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time He will reward us. – Do everything as unto the Lord. – Delight in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.
…yet in the moment of crisis or exhaustion or doubt or fear, the promise and comfort of His Word does not sustain me. I get caught up in trying to understand, trying to solve, trying not to come unglued. My problem is in truly trusting God, like Abraham trusted Him with Isaac, with all things I hold on tight to. Sure I trust Him, but I really need to TRUST Him to the point where my behaviors and responses more frequently reflect that I am a daughter of the Perfect God who’s got it all under control.
Thank you, Lisa, a daughter of the Perfect God, for the reminder of the beauty all around us amongst the brokeness of a sinful world.
I know how you feel. Self centered, depressed, resentful, and angry are words that describe me at the moment! I have an adult son who has mild cerebral palsy. He has two masters degrees, yet he cannot find a full time job so he moved back home two years ago. It shocks and upsets me to realize how prejudice against handicap people this country is. Please include him in your prayers, he needs to feel some success in his life. He wants to be independent and I want that for him.
Becky
I lift your son up to Jesus. Dear Lord let people see her son for what he is and not his disability. Please put him in the right place at the right time to get the job that will fulfill his spirit.
Please pray for me. I am 8 1/2 months pregnant and I am scared. We have a slight abnormality and I’m fearful. Pray for me to have peace and know it’s all in God’s hands.
Nicole, I know how scary it is when your pregnancy does not go as perfectly as planned. I will be praying that God fill you with a peace that surpasses all understanding.
Please pray for me, my lack of faith and trust in God finally caught up to me and I am now paying the price. Especially pray for my kids and husband.
Nicole,
I can’t imagine what you must be feeling. My 2nd child has special needs, but his limitations unfolded slowly, starting shortly after birth. I don’t know if it would have been easier or harder to have known prior to delivery. My thoughts are with you and I hope things go smoothly. My son was in the NICU and the nurses there were the best resource, I asked them most of my questions because they were around more often than the doctors.
My son is 12, and I too am still diapering and feeding. At least once a week I say to myself, and sometimes to him, “you exhaust me!” If I allow myself to think too far into the future (what will adulthood look like for him?) I get panicky. Sometimes one day at a time is all I can manage. I celebrate the small victories…like tonight when I deciphered (he’s entirely nonverbal) ttht he was looking for hat. Not only did I figure out that was what he wanted, I found the inky dinky thing in the bottom of the 4th toy bin/basket. Bam! Rock star status!
This morning I am thankful I clicked on this blog you wrote. This morning I am feeling especially brokenhearted as my husband left for work an hour ago and we were fighting. Our marriage seems to be crumbling while we face all these new challenges in our life. We recently obtained custody of my teenage step children. With them comes a lot of brokenness and baggage. It is hurting our small children and it is tearing my husband and I apart . I trust the Lord and his mercy and grace! My husbanf struggles with the unseen. I ask for prayers of protection over ever member of our family, for salvation for my husband and children, and for the strength that can only be found in God to trust it will all work out.
Oh Jamey….how I feel your pain!! I have never had step children, but I know all too well the pain of tension and stress and heart ache for a spouse and children. My husband left me and our 2 small kids 3 years ago and then our son went to live with him a year ago. I know that brokenness and I know God is the worker of miracles. When we are given to Him, He shows up!! Father, please be with Jamey and her entire family….breathe your peace and strength and courage and hope to each of them. Whisper your presence and healing through her household and let them see be physically touched by your grace and unending love. Restore this marriage and bring this family together with Your bond of love that will NEVER be broken. In Jesus Mighty, Glorious,Grace-filled name !! AMEN
Thank you Kay
I pray for a multitude of blessings for you and your family.
Merry Christmas
Jamey,
Prayers for the children, and your marriage. May God give you both the strength to endure and help heal your step children from their baggage. I pray God will shower you all with His love, mercy and forgiveness.
May you all have a blessed Christmas!
AMN
I am broken and laid flat. My son now lives with his Dad in Kentucky and my daughter and I are in Indiana. The holidays are even more difficult with my family spread out. Finances will not allow travel to be together as much as we want and Christmas is always a struggle. I feel like such a failure and so alone, just a hot mess. I am trying to count blessings and I know that this season especially is about Christ and His gift but I fail at explaining that to my kids and all seems dark again.
Hello Kay
here are a couple verses that stand out to me while I read about your current struggles.
The Lord uphold all those who fall, and lifts up all who are bowed down. Psalm 145:14
YOU ARE NOT A FAILURE!! You are a daughter of the Most High God!!
Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31
I pray for peace in the midst of this struggle.
The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace. Numbers 6:24-26
You can email me anytime you need. strandjamey@yahoo.com we can be an encouragement to one another.
Jamey
Kay,
God doesn’t make mistakes!! He made wonderful you. You are the daughter of MOST HIGH KING! You are loved, sung over and Cherished by God. You are not/ever ALONE. God will be with us ALWAYS AND FOREVER!
God,
Give Kay strength to endure these trials without feeling like a failure. Shower her with your love, grace and mercy. Show her that she is not a failure and never ever alone! Help her to remember the meaning of Christmas.
AMEN
As I began reading, I just knew this was you Lisa. I have one of your very first pieces, two tiny hammered squares with each of my daughters names along the edges and a single pearl on a chain. Just wore it yesterday! Today is my 43rd birthday and for the first time, I received a happy birthday from my birth mother, what a blessing! Birthdays have always been hard though and today I just can’t get out of my bed for long. My marriage is drowning, just when we seem to be in a peaceful place, Satan grabs one of us, pulling us under. I need prayer for my husband and I to forgive each others wrongs and allow healing to take root and grow. I need to feel hope.
Lisa, I saved this to read yesterday when I had a few moments and just got to it this morning. truth be told, I knew it was something that would speak to me and I don’t think I was ready to hear about it yesterday. I’m struggling with infertility and the loneliness of that. I have just kind of been in a funk as well because my husband is traveling a lot with a new job. I need prayer to have not only faith in Gods plan for my life but for peace in that knowledge. I need comfort. I’m prayin for Donna above!
Please pray for me. l am really battling with my depression–Thank you
Just found this blog and feel blessed by the love that is expressed by all. I found out my husband of 14 years has been unfaithful our entire marriage with the same woman. Three weeks later my mom died. I just left my home and husband and am crushed by his lies. Please pray for strength and peace
Dorothy,
Prayers for strength and endurance. Know that you are loved by God. May God shower you with His love, mercy and tenderness this Christmas as you grieve your mother’s death and the loss of everything.
Father,
Please surround Dorothy this Christmas with your loving arms. Shower her with peace, tranquility and give her the strength to endure and grieve. Help her see the true meaning of Christmas this year and not be bitter.
God Bless!
I have been there; done that and still going through it today but I always know my Jesus is there for me. If I told you everything that’s happend to me in the last 22 years, I’d be writing a booi about it. Although, I would love to have someone to help me with my life these last 22 years. It would be so nice to leave a legacy for my family and friends to read about me when I’m long gone. If there is anyone out there who would like to help me with this, I’d be much willing to spill it out. My email is: ltackett80@yahoo.com. Now, I can’t pay anything because I ive on an extremely tight budget. I was diagnosed with MS 1991; the rest will have to be put in book form. If you have a big giant heart to do this for me, please, please, please email me. May God bless you now and throughout your life.
Hello dear ones,
Today, I admit I am broken. I have struggled for years with depression and had an amazing recovery when 2 years ago in Jan my husband moved us to Costa Rica. For various health reasons it was necessary for me to move from Canada. We had to return in June of this year for 6 months in order to keep our health care. We were suppose to return on Dec 16th, but as it turned out my husband had to return without me to take care of property concerns. I have had to stay due to cardiac issues that have arisen. I was siagnosed with problems from a 2 day cardiolyrte stress test. I next have to have CT angios on Jan10th, not earlier as had originally be told. No cancellation lists. My husband will be alone for Christmas and New Years, thousands of miles away. And if further tests or procedures are required for me it could take another 2-3 months after Jan 10th to get them done. I am so very disappointed. Along with financial concerns, it seems so frightening to not know the future. I know that God is my good Father and He is always good. If you can think of me and keep us in your prayers over this difficult but wonderful season of the year, we would be so grateful. Life is short and I don’t know how much time I get, but I want to live my life in gratitude to the Lord for His kindness and mercies to me and I want to share the grace He has given to me. I also have a legal case I’m pursuing for being cut off by my ins co. from my disability payments for the last year. My union and their lawyers are to be on board with me, but all is so slow with no guarantees. We are struggling badly. Please pray for strength and for the mercy and love of the Lord to prevail. We have not been able to buy any Christmas presents for our children for 2 years now and that saddens me. We have a lovely family and it’s okay. Jesus is my gift and I am so grateful for my dear husband. But we are both on disability and sometimes the mountains seem so great. I don’t mean to complain. I just need to stay focused on the Lord and trust Him to take care of all our concerns. Thank your for your faithful ministry for our Lord. Stay true. Our reward is in heaven someday. All will be well then. God bless you and all who work with you in this most important ministry to needy people. thank you for your prayers for our family.
Carol,
First off you are not complaining, just stating some facts.
Prayers for quick results from the tests. Also may God come and give you peace, love. I pray you feel His arms surround you at this time–especially being alone with children at Christmas. Prayers that you work out your case and that hubby can come home soon.
Father God,
Please surround Carol and her family now. Give them your peace & tranquility. Allow them to feel your loving, healing arms. Bring her husband back soon. Help them to get answers to her health issues quickly. Resolve any court issues they have. Give them a dose of serenity and happy this Christmas.
God Bless!@
During the Christmas season we always feel we need to feel cheery and good, after all, it is the happy season. I am grateful you remembered the hurting ones because for many life isn’t so cheery. Let’s look around us and think of the less fortunate ones around us, especially during this season. Let’s look beyond our little world and love, love, love.
“but what’s even harder for me to look at is the brokenness in my own heart. I am self-centered, prone to fatigue, and sometimes discouraged. I think I’m doing just fine, being productive and full of energy, when all of a sudden I feel angry and resentful.” That paragraph just resonated with me. I can be fine and then go into work and get so busy that I lose sight of the Joy of the season and get fatigued and feeling angry.
Add to a busy work my aging father is starting to get dementia and working with my sister on paperwork for an assisted living facility and worrying about how to pay for it–if he gets VA benefits, etc. can all be overwhelming.
This Christmas more than ever I feel broken, defeated and overwhelmed! I just need more peace, God’s loving peace to calm my soul.
Thanks Lisa for writing the heart touching piece!
God Bless and have a Merry Christmas@
This post was God’s perfect timing. Often I have walked through life expecting it to be perfect, comparing my life to others, and not surprisingly always feeling like a failure because of it. I’ve battled anxiety and depression as long as I can remember so I am comforted that I’m not alone in my brokenness as I read through everyone’s comments here. God is showing me with his arms wrapped gently around me that my brokenness is safe with Him. It is because of my brokenness that He came for me, and for you. Instead of resisting and wishing I wasn’t so broken, God is showing me how it is a part of a beautiful plan and the brokenness doesn’t stand alone if we let God in. God’s joy, beauty and love are interwoven and caressing the cracks, sharp edges, and darkness.
My husband is struggling with pain and depression. He left me eight months ago and shows no signs of coming home. He is the only man I have ever loved. Every day is a struggle to get through for me. I don’t know how I’m going to make it. Please pray for me and I will pray for all of you. Thank you. Marni, I assure you, you are not broken and God loves you just the way you are. I am sure you are stronger than you think.
My 11 month old son was recently identified as having a neurological problem. You never go into motherhood thinking anything like this could happen to you, but here I am. On top of all of that we just recently moved to a new place for my husband’s job. I miss the support of my church family and keep praying I will find my place a new support in our new town. I have no idea what lies ahead for the future but I pray daily that God will walk with me and guide me and keep my baby boy safe.
My stepdaughter is with us after her mother pressed charges against her abusive boyfriend. She is only 15 and had to keep this turmoil a secret. I am thankful for answered prayer, that she is now with us and safe. That her mother is being open about this situation. Mostly my prayer is for her mum to find hope through Christ and for Him to fill the emptiness that she has filled with other things. That my beautiful stepdaughter feels settled with us and continues to trust God for her future. oh and for wisdom and patience as we parent a teen full-time for the first time, ever.
Rae, what a wonderful person you are! I can tell just from how you talk about your step- daughter. Seek God first and He will take care of everything else. Your love and Gods love for this beautiful teen will bring her healing. I will be praying you and your family.