Recovering From a Broken Heart

WHAT BREAKS YOUR HEART?

TO RECOVER FROM A BROKEN HEART, I NEED TO:

RECOGNIZE THE RUINS

These are the memoirs of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah. In late autumn, in the month of Kislev, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes’ reign, I was at the fortress of Susa. 2 Hanani, one of my brothers, came to visit me with some other men who had just arrived from Judah. I asked them about the Jews who had returned there from captivity and about how things were going in Jerusalem. NEHEMIAH 1:1-2 NLT

3 They said to me, “Things are not going well for those who returned to the province of Judah. They are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem has been torn down, and the gates have been destroyed by fire.” NEHEMIAH 1:3 NLT

GIVE MYSELF PERMISSION TO FEEL THE LOSS

4 When I heard this, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven. NEHEMIAH 1:4 NLT

Overthinking is often a sign of under feeling.

Then Jesus wept. JOHN 11:35 NLT

TURN MY PAIN INTO PRAYER

5 Then I said, “O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps his covenant of unfailing love with those who love him and obey his commands, 6 listen to my prayer! Look down and see me praying night and day for your people Israel. NEHEMIAH 1:5-6 NLT

Invite God’s power into whatever is broken.

The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God. PSALM 51:17 NLT

Sometimes it takes a broken heart to allow the light in.

(Jesus said) Put your trust in the light while there is still time; JOHN 12:36 NLT

PRAY WITH THE POWER OF PERSONAL REPENTANCE

6 I confess that we have sinned against you. Yes, even my own family and I have sinned! 7 We have sinned terribly by not obeying the commands, decrees, and regulations that you gave us through your servant Moses. NEHEMIAH 1:6-7 NLT

PRAY GOD’S PROMISES

8 “Please remember what you told your servant Moses: ‘If you are unfaithful to me, I will scatter you among the nations. 9 But if you return to me and obey my commands and live by them, then even if you are exiled to the ends of the earth, I will bring you back to the place I have chosen for my name to be honored.’ 10 “The people you rescued by your great power and strong hand are your servants. NEHEMIAH 1:8-10 NLT

God’s way is perfect. All the LORD’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection. PSALM 18:30 NLT

PURSUE GOD’S HEART FOR MY LIFE

11 O Lord, please hear my prayer! Listen to the prayers of those of us who delight in honoring you. Please grant me success today by making the king favorable to me. Put it into his heart to be kind to me.” In those days I was the king’s cup-bearer. NEHEMIAH 1:11 NLT

But God removed Saul and replaced him with David, a man about whom God said, ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart. He will do everything I want him to do.’ ACTS 13:22 NLT

Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6 Seek his will in all you do and he will show you which path to take. PROVERBS 3:5-6 NLT

My Notes

Discussion Questions

Use the following questions to reflect on the sermon. Choose a couple from each section to discuss as a group:

  1. START HERE: What’s something either in your life or the world that honestly breaks your heart right now?
  2. START HERE: When you hear bad news or experience something painful, how do you usually respond: shut down, overthink, try to fix it, or something else?
  3. KEEP GOING: Read Nehemiah 1:1-4 NLT. Nehemiah didn’t rush past the pain—he sat, wept, and mourned. What stands out to you about his response? Do you find it’s hard to give yourself permission to feel loss like that?
  4. KEEP GOING: Read Nehemiah 1:5-6 NLT. Why is it important to turn to prayer quickly when you’re hurting instead of waiting? What keeps you from praying first?
  5. KEEP GOING: Read Nehemiah 1:6-7 NLT and Psalm 51:17 NLT. Nehemiah includes confession in his prayer. When’s the last time you confessed sin to God or to another person? If you find confession difficult, why and what might change in your relationship with God or others if you practiced it more regularly?
  6. KEEP GOING: Read Nehemiah 1:8-10 NLT and Psalm 18:30 NLT. What’s one of God’s promises that is significant to you right now? How does your life show whether you truly trust that promise or not?
  7. LIVE IT OUT: Read Nehemiah 1:11 NLT. Where in your life do you see brokenness? As you bring that to God (through prayer, confession, or trusting His promises) what’s one specific step of faith you sense Him asking you to take this week?