Joy Comes With the Morning

my heart. 

It aches and longs and feels pain. it can feel extreme joy where i have to clutch my chest it’s overwhelming. and yet we choose to show hatred so much more than showing love to people. 

I read something interesting this morning as i was going through my devotional and books for the day. It was about suffering. I normally try to write about getting through tough times, persevering, success, and beauty. But the truth is, we all will go through trying times. Things that pull heavy on our hearts and cause us to feel extreme pain, sometimes for an extended period of time. In the midst of this pain is where our character is made and many times shown outwardly in a way we can no longer only show the pieces we want people to see.

If you’ve read my blog before, you may know i’m a Christian, but i’m in no way going to say that “He only gives us what we can handle.” I don’t believe God puts us through suffering solely to teach us something, it happens regardless of circumstances and situations but the strength comes from what happens to our heart while going through pain and what God can do IN my life during that time. 

I’ve read a lot of books, devotionals, and even articles about how through trying times we can continue to rely on God, and how we should continue to thank him during it. The way this particular passage hit me, let me know how i can be thankful during something so difficult, and that’s what happens to my heart during it. the ending prayer stated this for the day “may the pain i experience cause me to offer and receive love more abundantly.” 

I can say this with an honest heart that i’ve been going through one of those painful times. It’s lasted longer than i would like, and i have times where the not so pretty pieces of me show whether it’s anger,  lack of patience, or unkindness. But i can also say there has been good. It has opened my heart in a strange way to feel love more deeply and more empathy towards loved ones, i reach out to more women and understand daily how precious people are to me. I have laughed harder, and felt joy and appreciated each moment that is wonderful. My heart has softened and caused me to feel emotions deeper, speaking of, every time i write something heartfelt, tears are ready to run down my cheek with happiness and understanding of the good that will always come from painful times. 

But I’m not just going to share that pain is the final answer. No, there is great hope that through pain i can learn to love more abundantly and appreciate more than i was capable of before. That i can be softer and kinder to those i want in my life, and during heartache can grow as a woman. How do i know this? Because it has happened. I have endured some great heartache in the past few years and have gone through the period of time where my heart was hardened. I didn’t believe in people being good nor did i think it was real when i saw it. But slowly my heart softened. In pain, i have found more people reaching out to me. They needed me, and it was a time i could grow. I have read countless books and journaled. I have experienced that through pain, if i let it, i can receive and give love more abundantly. But we have to see past the pain and what we can experience that’s good along with it. 

so what does it take? Time. It takes time to read and understand and open your heart back up. Time to think about the good and have little experiences through that hardship that show your character, but each experience is an opportunity to show kindness. it takes moments where you feel so weak you can’t go on, and that’s when someone else needs you. and in those moments i pray a loved one will reach out to you as they’ve done time and again for me.  The best thing we can do is continue on, we’ll see the good, heal those pieces that are hurt and grow. 

So through your heartache and trying times, give yourself time. Time to hurt and maybe be angry, but then get up, brush it off as best as possible and start to heal your heart so you can experience love more abundantly than before and a joy so unexplainable. 

I don't have all the answers, but I can recommend some books that have been heart-healing for me. Ones that I can read over and over and get something new out of it. The ones that help me understand who I am as a woman (and I'll share some for men too) You don't have to be hurting to read these books by any means, they're wonderful in happy times but I do recommend them in tough times too. Just some encouragement when maybe you feel alone in hurt. 

Women:

Captivating By John and Stasi Eldredge. I know I write about this book a lot. I First read it in college and have since given it to women in my life. Its about unveiling the mystery of a woman's soul. 

Becoming Yourself By John and Stasi Eldredge. You're going to notice a theme in authors. They way they connect with my heart is just too good not to share. 

The Confident Woman by Joyce Meyer. I read this a few years ago but it really gave me that boost of confidence I was looking for at the time.

Battlefield of the Mind By Joyce Meyer. Out of both Joyce Meyer books I shared, I would go for this one. It really hit my heart. 

Men:

Wild at Heart By John and Stasi Eldredge. Men this one is for you. I've only read it about half through so far but I've heard some wonderful things about it. 

Way of the Wild Heart By John and Stasi Eldredge. I didn't know this is actually a completely different book from the first. But I heard it's powerful as well

If you order on amazon and use the links above, I'll know they were helpful! they send a message to me to let me know. (anonymously) You've got the tools, now all I suggest is when you read, journal too. Maybe that looks like just writing down quotes until you can find the words. It might be starting to write a few sentences, but when you let yourself just write, sometimes you'll figure out what you really feel deep down to start the healing process. 

Keep Shining

Shanna Star