If you are in a hard marriage or are divorced, I know you feel dead, or at least, parts of you feel dead. Damaged beyond repair. Used up. Empty. Abandoned. Finished. The opposite of whole or healed. I get that. I totally and completely get that. Because I felt every one of those feelings, sometimes for years, all while pretending I didn’t.
But there’s a story in Scripture that I love. A man comes to Jesus and tells him his daughter is sick, that she is dying, and he begs Jesus to come. But Jesus was distracted (by another story that I love, see Luke 8) and someone comes and tells the father that it’s too late, his daughter did in fact die. Jesus told them not to fear and he went to the house of the dead girl. And when he got there, he went into the room where the girl was, took her hand and said to her, dead as she was, “Little girl, arise.”
And she did. Scripture says “her spirit returned”.
Sweet one who feels done and broken beyond repair and dead, you are not. You are not done. You are not broken beyond repair. You are not dead until you are dead.
Jesus brought people back literally from the dead…three that I can think of off the top of my head… plus himself. Do you hear me? Jesus actually rose actual physically dead people back to actual life.
Which means he’s got the power to actually raise you who feels emotionally and spiritually dead as well back to emotional and spiritual life.
Do you want to be made well is the question.
Listen, I get this too. I’ve worn sadness like a cloak, as comfortable as a favorite ratty sweater. We know what we know. And if we’ve lived in brokenness and dysfunction for any length of time, our entire psyche wraps around that as if it is actual wholeness, but it’s not. But brokenness is not what we were created for.
You and I, we were created for freedom. And peace. And to be blessed. And to be a blessing. And to experience and show the great, deep love and grace of God.
Do you want to be made well? Do you want to stop living in rags? Do you want to stop feeling dead?
You can. It will be hard. So hard. It will feel uncomfortable and maybe even a bit wrong. But just at first. I promise you.
Ask God to return your spirit. Ask God to make you well. And then, sweet girl, arise. You are not dead.
You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy. -Psalm 30:11
This week you have posted two things my heart needed to hear. You describe perfectly in this article how I’m feeling, my heart and soul feeling tattered and damaged beyond repair. I do walk around wearing sorrow as a cloak. I know that I and all the other hurting women out there need your words Eleizabeth to keep reminding us that life has hope.
“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,[a]
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the Lord
for the display of his splendor.”
Isaiah 61:1-3
Once again, you have spoken truth I needed to hear today. This whole entire process is so confusing. There are days at a time where I think to myself, “You know, I think I’m going to make it through this!” And then, out of the blue it seems, my heart and mind start to dwell on the things that are still so raw and still frustrate and sadden me, and then it seems I’m right back at the beginning – filled with sadness, anger, confusion and such pain! While I am reaching out to God for every single breath, I still get caught unawares. Thank you for the encouragement today. The past couple of days have been difficult. Praying for every sweet sister walking this path!
We love this. Posting on Give Her Wings. Thank you, friend.
Thank you, Megan!
This both beautiful and inspiring Elizabeth. Thank you.
Thank you for that! That is just how I have been feeling for months now. I’ve been so afraid I won’t be any better off without him than I am with him-but by all accounts I am assured that God has a bright future ahead for me. Your wonderful words confirm that I will indeed live, and live fully! To God be the glory.
Well written!!
Beautifully written, encouraging article. I made a pin and put it on Pinterest. You can see it here: http://www.pinterest.com/femininereview/marriage-and-family-life/ I will also share on Twitter and Facebook.
Just wanted you know sweet sister in Christ…..the Spirit prompted me to pray today…..:) May He bring you many open doors of opportunities to share Him, Jesus, with many through your blog and other resources that you have….Thank you Jesus….thank you Lord for those that are being encouraged by this sweet instrument of Yours, Elisabeth….asking all in the name of Jesus…:) …..the uncontested love of our lives….