Hearts are such fragile things, easily hurt and wounded, broken and crushed. Our brokenness means we all have an aching heart, whether we sense it or not. Life’s flotsam and jetsam twists us up inside and we crave an elusive peace.
Nothing we try to do can quite assuage the void within that fills with unshed tears and pain. I wrote something about this in my poetic memoir, especially in the poem below. It’s not a haiku but it addresses this topic well…
Broken
In every pew
sits a broken heart
In every church
we’re falling apart
We’re the haunted
by memories and shame
We’re the wounded
by sickness and pain
In need of
God’s mercy and grace
In hope of
change taking place
We reach out
with yearning tears
We sing out
broken hallelujahs
©joylenton
There is an answer to our weariness, weakness and pain, our guilt and shame, our wounded state. His Name is Jesus and He is the Son of God, broken for us on the Cross so that we might experience true rest, freedom, peace and joy through knowing Him.
Father,
I pray that every thirsting soul and every aching heart will find their heart’s true Home in relationship with you. May you assuage the pain that comes from living in a fallen world, bring us peace beyond all earthly understanding and a joy which surpasses our wildest expectations.
Saturate our hearts with your Love, your goodness and grace, your immeasurable, awe-inspiring Holy presence. And grant us deep soul rest as we learn to trust in you above our own desires and anxious thoughts.
Heal our brokenness and give us Hope to start again, no matter where we are situated or what life has thrown at us. May we receive your mercy and forgiveness, let go of guilt, shame and disgrace and be able to lift our heads high, knowing we are your own Beloved ones.
Amen
aching heart
our hearts are aching
there’s an emptiness inside
Jesus alone fills
©joylenton
**PS: you can access my book, ‘Seeking Solace: Discovering grace in life’s hard places’, in the sidebar here or on Amazon** 🙂
Poetry Joy 
Amen, Joy. Agreeing with you in prayer today. Blessings.
Thank you, June, it’s lovely to have your prayers join mine! Blessings on your day, sweet friend. xo 💜
Amen dear friend! “Broken” is one of the poems from your book that I have highlighted, as it rings so true with my own heart. Somehow, in our brokenness, HE joins us together as we look to HIM for the healing and the filling. Thank you for the ways that you have pointed me back to His Grace, even here in this life with chronic illness. Blessings, Love, and Hugs to you! xoxo
Dear Bettie, once more your thoughts have added depth and insight to my own. I’m grateful for your words here: “Somehow, in our brokenness, HE joins us together as we look to HIM for the healing and the filling.” Amen! We have to see our broken state and look to God for all the piecing back together healing we need. I am touched and honoured by my words being a means of grace to you, just as yours so often are for me. Praise God for inspiring us to be able to bless and encourage one another on this faith and chronic illness journey! Blessings, love and hugs to you. xoxo 💜
Yes, He is our answer! Love the poems and the prayer. Saying, Amen, along with June.
Blessings to you, dear Joy! xoxo
What a gift it is to be able to turn to God in our weakness and distress and be met by pure Love and Grace! Thank you so much for joining me in prayer, Gayl, and for your kind encouragement here. I really value your gentle, supportive presence, dear friend. Blessings and love to you! xoxo 💜
Reblogged this on Pastor Michael Moore's Blog and commented:
Powerful and so very timely, Joy!
Oh how I love it when the things we write turn out to be timely and helpful to others! Thank you for sharing this with your readers. Bless you, Michael! 🙂