I know it might hurt to hear this, but sometimes there’s no ‘happily ever after.’ Sometimes there’s pain. Sometimes things go wrong, and even with the best-laid plans or intentions, we find ourselves in messy relationships or down broken paths. We find ourselves filled with anger, hostility, and unrest. There is no heartache like the pain of a life that didn’t go as planned.
It’s not easy to get through times like this, when you feel broken and empty. But remember this during painful moments:
1. You can always love yourself.
You might be broken-hearted or lost, but you can always love yourself. You may be deeply depressed or perhaps you’re plagued by loneliness and discouragement, but you can be confident that you are under God’s watchful eye. God will never leave you alone. He sees you all the time.
2. God’s grace and love heals.
God created you, and in His name you can find acceptance and love. Although it doesn’t feel like it right now, painful moments can be good for the heart. It can uncover hidden depths in you. It causes you to think about yourself differently, and strive to change. It helps you ponder your intentions, motives, interests, and dreams. And the most beautiful thing is that you can learn yourself like never before.
3. Stop listening to life’s lies.
Above all, find the ability to seek and discover the truth. God fills you with peace when you trust Him and offer forgiveness (to yourself and others). Love is the shortest route between your heart and happiness. And to be honest, in the most painful moments of your life, the pain in your heart is one only you can heal. So choose to forgive yourself and those who hurt you.
4. Even in life’s darkest hour, you can still have hope.
Every day gives you a new reason to sing and dance. When you accept the pain with humility, you can have a fuller life. People spend so much time searching for happiness, but honestly, happiness depends on what you are and not what you have.
The difficult and painful moments of this life will leave you when you remember that you’ve been built with a heart that’s made for love. Let God share His love with you. Let yourself be loved, and love yourself, too. And as you go through your days, pause for a moment and make room for love instead of hatred.
When you do these things, life will fall into place in ways you’ve never imagined.
Featured Image Credit: TONL