A late night phone call delivered hard news. My mind struggled to keep up as lies unraveled and truth emerged. A family member’s betrayal left me feeling foolish, blindsided, and beyond angry. Years of deception collapsed into a big, complicated mess.

Memories of family beach vacations, holiday celebrations, and dinners around my dining room table appeared tainted and fraudulent. Well-meaning friends offered awkward silence or unsolicited advice. Both felt like salt being rubbed into my wounded heart.

In the months following the difficult phone call, I tried to erase reminders and remove evidence of the person from my life. I purged photos from albums and tossed once-beloved gifts. In precious family pictures, scissors extracted what my heart couldn’t.

In the dark corners of my soul, I envisioned the disheveled family member at my door groveling for forgiveness. But when no apology arrived and no remorse was expressed, the silence invited anger and bitterness into my heart. The deep pit of depression crept closer.

My life was a mess, and I needed help.

In 2 Kings 18 and 19, King Hezekiah faced his own menacing mess. The mighty Assyrians were poised to attack and destroy Jerusalem. But the king handed his problem to the One who could handle it. “Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord” (2 Kings 19:14 NIV).

King Hezekiah didn’t waste time with worry, freeze in fear, or kick himself for not being stronger. He didn’t try to power through on his own strength, overthink the situation, or pause to elicit advice from his staff. With a formidable foe at the city’s gates, he hitched up his robe, hiked to the temple, and spread the news before his mighty God. “And Hezekiah prayed to the Lord: ‘Lord, the God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth.’ ” (2 Kings 19:15 NIV).

Perhaps the king fell prostrate on the floor as his pleas reverberated around the temple’s walls. Maybe Hezekiah’s cries echoed mine: Here you go, God. This is too big, too hard, and too painful. I can’t handle this.

The only way to survive my painful season was to run to God like King Hezekiah. With raw honesty, I emptied my heart. God knew the twisted thoughts that littered my mind and still met me in my heartache. Most importantly, my Maker understood the sting of betrayal and rejection.

Together, we muddled through the mess.

Christian counseling, accountability partners, and Scripture memorization paved the path towards healing. Index cards with verses about forgiveness and hope were taped to bathroom mirrors and kitchen cabinets. God’s Word became a soothing balm for my broken and betrayed heart.

The king’s mess wasn’t unmanageable for God nor was mine. He heard Hezekiah’s prayer and saved Jerusalem from destruction. 2 Kings 19:34 says, “I will defend this city and save it, for my sake and for the sake of David my servant.” The God who heard the king’s pleas in the temple was the same God who heard my late-night cries. God delivered the Israelites from their mess, and He guided me through mine — one baby step at a time.

Dear friend, when we are surrounded by the enemy or wounded by those who claim to love us, we can run to God. He always welcomes us with open arms. Before His throne, we can present our pain, lay down our heavy load, and spread our suffering. Our God is the Maker of Heaven and Earth. Enthroned between the cherubim, He is God over all the kingdoms of the earth, and He can handle our messes.

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