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NIV is used unless otherwise noted.



Unveiled Hearts: Father of the Wounded Bride

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
Psalm 147:3
Do you remember the first time your parents told you, “I love you?”
I do. I was almost twenty-two years old. Nervous to take the first step down the unfamiliar church aisle at my wedding. Clutching my bouquet in one hand and my dad’s arm with the other. Take a deep breath. First note of the Wedding March sounds. Dad leaned over and whispered through my veil, “I love you and I’m proud of you.”
Whoa! My heart stopped then and even now I treasure the words.
In the moment I was unable to process this news and it wasn’t mentioned or repeated again until ten years later when I shared by phone, fifteen hundred miles away, that my husband planned to leave me. Since then, it’s become a regular occurrence for my parents and me to end our phone calls with a genuine, “Love you.”
Our hearts are wounded by abandonment, betrayal, rejection, abuse—by other wounded people.
We are unable to control our own shattered lives and desperately need divine help. I’m learning God is sufficient to heal broken and wounded hearts.
God is near to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18). The Hebrew word for “near” is karov and means to be close enough to touch. I’m learning to believe that God is close enough to touch me. His nearness is a wonderful thing to be embraced, not something to be feared.
The Lord draws us near to Him in the midst of our brokenheartedness and woundedness. Being near to God is meant to be a shared experience.
It is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace...whispers the writer of Hebrews 13:9 to my wounded heart.
Heavenly Father, You are healing my broken heart and keeping me secure with Your faithful love. Thank You.
Karen Sims

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