God Loves the Brokenhearted?

Who would have thought that defining the heart would be so difficult? 

From scientific definitions, to definitions referring to the emotions a heart possesses --- the options are endless. It seems that no dictionary definition can get it quite right.

What is it that makes the heart so complex? So difficult to pin down?

Matters of the heart are numerous, and in fact, I would argue that there are few matters that don't require the involvement of the human heart. 

The duties of the heart, its emotions, its vital importance to everyday human existence goes beyond words. And yet, somehow, the Bible gets it just right.

The Enlightened Eyes of the Heart. In Ephesians, Paul prays that the people of Ephesus would have "enlightened eyes of the heart".  Enlightened to "know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His uncomparably great power for us who believe." (Ephesians 1:17) These verses do not just require us to have alert hearts, with eyes to see what is before us, but it insists that we be submissive to the will of God. For our hearts must first be enlightened before we may see and even begin to understand God in all His glory. 

Setting our Hearts on Things Above. Colossians 3 instructs us to set both our hearts and minds on things above, not on things of this earth. Why? Because Christ is seated in heaven above at the right hand of God. Our desire should be that the meditations of our hearts are on our Lord, rather than consumed by things of this earth. The more we meditate on Christ with our whole hearts, the more we will become like Him, and the more we become obedient to His will.

Hearts that Leap for Joy. Psalms 28:7 notes that, "My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song." The heart is an instrument for a variety of emotions. From sadness and sorrow, to joy and thanksgiving, the heart experiences a wide variety of emotion. But what does it actually mean to have a heart that leaps for joy? Could you imagine seeing a person whose heart is leaping out of their chest with joy for the Lord? That precise emotion was what David experienced in the Psalms! And a healthy enlightened heart that is set on things above does precisely that. 

The Brokenhearted. "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." (Psalm 34:18) God observes the state of each and every individual person's heart, and it is in those times of suffering that God's presence is most noticeable. The Lord loves a broken and contrite spirit, and He draws near those who come to Him in their time of need. God loves the brokenhearted just as much as He loves those hearts that burst with joy. Regardless, God is near.

Love the Lord with All of Your Heart. The greatest commandment of all is to love the Lord your God with all your heart and all of your mind. God requests that we trust Him with our hearts. That we give our hearts over to Him in full submission to His will. "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." (Psalm 37:4) The Lord asks for our hearts and requests our devotion to Him, promising that the desires of our hearts will come true if our hearts are truly aligned with His will for us.

This is far from an exhaustive definition of the heart. The Bible talks of a trusting heart, a caring heart, one that consistently seeks the will of God, and a heart that is broken. We cannot be detached from our hearts physically, but it is so easy to become emotionally distant from the state of your heart.

If you haven't already, I would encourage you, whether you possess a joyful heart, or are presently brokenhearted, to ask the Lord to come into your heart. He understands matters of the heart far better than you or I. He is the Great Physician, capable of doctoring any heart if only we would place our own squarely in His hands.