Psalm 22:14
I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of
joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.
Today, let us seek counsel and comfort from our Lord in the
face of our struggles. Many, if not all of us, have at some point bore heavy
hearts. Hearts that are burdened by worry, despair, loss, or fear. But fear
not, dear friends, for even in our most challenging moments, we have the
assurance of God's perpetual love and compassion.
Our scripture reading today draws from the Book of Psalms,
Psalm 34:18, "The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those
who are crushed in spirit." It may seem difficult to understand why we
go through suffering, and you may feel like your heart is heavy with the weight
of the world. Yet, it is in these moments that we must cling even tighter to
our faith.
Our Lord, our Sovereign God, is not a stranger to our pain.
Look at His son, Jesus Christ, who bore our sins on the cross. The weight of
His sacrifice is a testament to God’s unfathomable love for us. He knows what a
heavy heart feels like. When we feel that our strength is sapped, and our heart
is heavy within us, remember that God is with us. His divine presence is an
unending source of comfort and solace.
Beloved, we must remember that, as Christians, our lives are
not immune to the challenges and trials of this world. However, we are promised
God's unfaltering support and guidance. In the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter
11:28, Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and
I will give you rest." With these words, we are assured that we do not
have to bear our burdens alone.
We have a Saviour who extends an open invitation to us,
offering rest and respite from our weariness and heavy hearts. Not only this,
but Isaiah 53:3 gives us the powerful reminder of how even He has experienced this,
Himself: “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and
acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was
despised, and we esteemed him not.”
Let us take solace because God’s grace is all-encompassing.
Out of our heavy hearts spring wells of compassion, love, and a deepened sense
of empathy. These trials and tribulations can draw us closer to others who are
also suffering. In these moments, we become God's hands and feet, sharing in
others’ pain, extending love and comfort, just as Christ does for us.
Even more so, God uses our experiences to shape us, to meld
us into vessels of His divine purpose. The Apostle Paul writes in Romans 5:3-5,
"…we also glory in our sufferings because we know that suffering
produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope
does not put us to shame because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts
through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us."
In the darkness of our despair, we find the beacon of hope.
Even a heavy heart can be a heart full of hope and faith, a heart that, despite
its weight, can rise and buoy others with its strength and resilience.
In closing, let us not forget to share our burdens with the
Lord through prayer. God hears our cries, and He is present in our suffering. Let
us invite His Spirit to lighten our heavy hearts and fill them with hope, joy,
and peace. When your heart is heavy, lift it up to God in prayer. He cares for
you. Even amid your despair, believe that God's purpose is being fulfilled, His
love is being poured out, and His grace is carrying you through.
So, my dear friends, when you feel the weight of a heavy
heart, remember, you are in the loving hands of our Sovereign God. You are not
alone. You are seen; you are heard, and you are loved, always, and unconditionally.
May God's peace and comfort be with you all. Amen.