With a Broken Heart

This summer has been one of tragedy for our nation. I don't want to just "be sad" anymore. I don't want to just "be angered" at the politics and political response anymore. Neither one of those things is going to solve anything.

I want to have my heart broken.

It is in the tragic times that Christians often say, "I'm praying for you." And I think those prayers are important, but there's another prayer that I've been praying over these tragedies.

"Break my heart, Lord. Break it in two."

Because here's the truth--we can pray for peace for the people involved in these tragedies, but it isn't until we change that we will see change.  I can pray for these people, but it isn't until the Lord breaks my heart for what breaks His that I will have compassion and true love.  Until He breaks my heart, I won't see human life as He does.

So many of us try to say that we understand the oppression of the minorities in this nation.  So many of us try to deny the hurt that these people face, saying that "things have gotten better."  We are sympathetic in tragedy, but it is to be empathetic for which I strive.  But I can't be.  Not unless I have the eyes of my Lord.

So, I will pray for peace and comfort for the victims of these acts of violence, as well as all of those hurting because of it.  I 100% believe that those prayers, when prayed with a sincere heart, are important and valuable and effective.  But I'm also praying for the Lord to break my heart.  I want to see people like He does.  And from what the Bible says, He sees every single person as person that he LOVES.  So much that He would send His only son to die in their place, and in my place.

I want to hurt and mourn alongside of the LGBTQ community.  Alongside the black community.  Alongside the Dallas police.  As innocent lives are taken, our Lord weeps, because He values those lives.  I want to weep with Him.  He cries over the hearts He created and chases after, even if they are running the other direction.  But He also, in the midst of the darkness that is sweeping our nation, sees the potential.  

I happened to be reading Isaiah 35 the other day, and it showed me this--how the Lord sees potential.  He is the King of making beauty from messes.

The desert and the parched land will be glad;

    the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.

Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom;

    it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.

[vs. 1-2]

...

And a highway will be there;

    it will be called the Way of Holiness;

    it will be for those who walk on that Way.

The unclean will not journey on it;

    wicked fools will not go about on it.

 No lion will be there,

    nor any ravenous beast;

    they will not be found there.

But only the redeemed will walk there,

       and those the Lord has rescued will return.

They will enter Zion with singing;

    everlasting joy will crown their heads.

Gladness and joy will overtake them,

    and sorrow and sighing will flee away.

[vs. 8-10]

When He looks into the eyes of each human affected, He sees potential.  He sees a future with Him.  He sees a transformed life.  He sees a life full of joy.  And I want to see that too.  

Break my heart, Lord.

I want to live this life with a broken heart, because when my heart is broken the way His is, truth and grace will balance as love and overflow from my heart.

Break my heart, Lord.  Break our hearts.