Offloading That Heavy Heart

It is no doubt that even when we are believers of Christ, we would still experience the heavy feelings of dread, disappointment, despair, indifference and loss. We may try our best to struggle through the dark days, yet we could find our own strength and faith weakening instead. Do you fall into this state sometimes? How do we come out of this then?

This relates a lot to the story of David. In Psalm 31:9-10, he said, “Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and body with grief. My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning; my strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak.” Just like us, David goes through distress, sorrow, grief and anguish on his own terms, probably on a larger scale than ours. However, he is a man that pursues the Lord’s heart, so even as he sinks into heavy emotions, he also sees a big part of the reason being that he has been apart from God in his living. But how is it that even though David has been through some really rough patches, yet he did not get overwhelmed in despair, but could still deepen the roots of his faith? The key comes from the fact that he always “remembered the Lord”. In Psalm 42:6, he said, “My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar.” So brothers and sisters, if we are weighed down by heavy hearts at this moment, let us learn from David’s words, to remember the Lord.

Remember God’s Faithfulness

In Deuteronomy 8:2, it says, “Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years.” And in verse 4-5, it goes on to say, “our clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years. Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the Lord your God disciplines you.” Now when troubled times come and our vision of God and faith becomes a blurry image, when we cannot comprehend the circumstance we are in or our recurring bad emotions, we have to recall God’s faithfulness. And God’s faithfulness is not just to caress and dress our “wounds” first, but to bring His children into acknowledging their sins, repent and then being comforted in His grace and mercy. Many times we are not conscious, then we fall into self pity or pain because we feel as though we have failed ourselves or others. It causes us to forget how God has been leading us and is still guiding us through a sanctification process, so that we can see our hearts and own power for what it is, and let it all down to turn to God for contentment and hope instead. That is the only way we can get rid of the accusations of the evil one and the vicious cycle of lamentations.

Remember God’s Love And Purpose

Next, we have to remember God’s love and purpose. Psalm 8:2-3 continues on talking about remembering God leading the people in the wilderness for forty years, “to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.” Then in Psalm 8:18, “But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.” To be honest, more often than not, it is hard for us to fathom God’s works in our lives, but we have to, however, remember and think about how God’s mercy and sacrifice for us demonstrates His love for us. And God’s purpose in all things is to deepen certain truths and promises of His in our hearts. In the example of the verses today, the Lord allowed His people to be in hunger so that they can see for themselves that they cannot rely on other gods, they cannot rely on themselves, but only on God because only He can satisfy our true needs. So even if our heavy hearts might make us feel that God is far away, but if we continue to trust and lean in on every word of our living God, you will grow deep roots in God-reliance, humility, love and submission. Actually, the end goal is ultimately for us to draw closer to God and enjoy His provision. This is God’s love and purpose.

Remember The Promise Of Eternal Hope

Then in Psalm 8:7 and 10 it says, “For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land—a land with brooks, streams, and deep springs gushing out into the valleys and hills. When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you.” Brothers and sisters, this is a covenant made by God for His people. Even though we may have struggles and challenges now, but it would not run on forever, because the Lord has prepared a good land and that is the Heavenly Kingdom. So we have to remember the end destination of eternal hope. As we go through life now, we would still wish for this and that, that things can improve, that our career can do better, our family relationships can do better, we want certain changes or a better future and such. It is human nature to want something more, hope for something more. But that is not the definition of true hope that God had in mind for us. The hope God provides is bigger than our idea of hope, greater than what this fallen world can provide. It is far more precious. Thus, our definition of hope has to come from God’s promises and rest on His grace. Though our eyes cannot foresee how our future would be, but when we trust in the covenant God has set for us, our hearts will in turn be filled with anticipating joy and perseverance as we go through the waiting and process of sanctification. So what we can do now is to lean in on God’s daily grace because the Lord said in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

Brothers and sisters, as we are laden with our heavy hearts, let us fix our eyes on the Lord, remembering His faithfulness, love and purpose, so that we will restore a hope rested upon Him. When we continue doing so, you will be able to meet God’s tender, healing and wise guidance to lay down our burdens one by one, and then strengthening your spirit. God bless.