No one can truly describe heartbreak or understand the depth of pain it brings unless they’ve experienced it themselves. Even after going through a few broken relationships, when the next one ends, it still feels just as heavy and painful as the first. It’s like your whole world falls apart, both on the outside and on the inside. All you want is for the pain to stop, but in your mind, you feel like nothing can bring the kind of comfort you need. Your heart convinces you that only the love of the person who left can fill that empty space inside.
But the truth is, that kind of comfort can only come from God. He is the one who can heal the deepest wounds and restore what’s broken. When we face pain like this, it’s easy to think that we’re alone in our struggle, but God promises to be with us through it all. Psalm 34:18 (NLT) says, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.” Even in the moments when we feel like we’re falling apart, God is right there, ready to comfort us and help us heal. He doesn’t just watch us suffer from a distance—He comes close, offering the kind of love and peace that no person can provide.
Deep down, we know that this is true, but the sadness can be so piercing that it may seem as though we’re not connecting with the truth of God’s healing. It’s easy to let the pain overwhelm us and make us doubt that God’s promises are real in those moments. But the Bible reminds us in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NLT), “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.” Even when we can’t see it, God is working behind the scenes, and the comfort and strength He offers is closer to us than the hurt we feel. He doesn’t leave us to face our pain alone.
I had a friend who went through a tough divorce after 15 years of marriage. He said that for a long time, he felt depressed and sick, like he couldn’t move forward physically or emotionally. But deep down, he knew that trusting God mattered more than holding on to the past. It was a long time before he would even think about starting a relationship again. He admitted to being bitter and not having the highest opinion of marriage, but something changed. Despite his hurt, he realized that, God still had a plan for his life and his future.
Ephesians 4:22-23 (NLT) says, “Throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.” Sometimes we forget this verse and fail to ask ourselves if we’ve neglected to throw off something that is causing a problem in our relationships. It’s easy to overlook how our past behaviors or attitudes hinder our faith and our relationships with others. Often, it takes us a while to recognize that what we really need is renewal and transformation. We need the Holy Spirit’s help to move forward with healthier and more Christlike attitudes and a heart that is set on pleasing God.
After heartbreak and a period of recovery, the question “What comes next?” is natural. Our Heavenly Father provides for our needs, and if your desire is to have a lasting, loving relationship, He wants this for you more than you could ever imagine. But He also wants us to step into the next chapter with a firm grip on what we need to do differently. It’s not about having a new wardrobe, hairstyle, or profile. It’s about seeking God’s purpose and plan for our lives and understanding what He requires of us. When greater lessons of His love are learned, and we align our hearts and minds with His Will, He will guide us toward the right relationships. And we’ll have greater wisdom to recognize when a relationship is ordained by Him, as well as the spiritual strength and patience to help keep it anchored in His love and truth. ■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“What Happens Next” written by Kim Times, edited by Rev. Fran Mack and KLizzie for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2024. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.