Quit Playing Games With My Heart

Something has to break.

Something has to give.

Disappointments hurt, don’t they?  Often occurs when you have your hopes up.  Your mind is set on one thing only to have it seemingly ripped right out from under you.  Often takes you on an emotional and mental health roller coaster.

Perhaps you’re like me and you want to say: Quit playing games with my heart!

While the song gives me a nice flashback to a childhood favorite by the Backstreet Boys, I’m not referring here to the song.  I’m referring to what it feels like on the inside when our lives don’t play out exactly how we may have thought they should.

It’s quite exhausting riding the roller coaster.  One moment there is so much joy emanating from your soul, while in the next you feel as if all of the air has been sucked from your very lungs.  There are times when it seems like we can’t catch a break.  I know, I’ve been there too.  Recently.

I’m thankful for a God who sees us.  A God who understands what our heart feels, whether that is joy, disappointment, or somewhere in between.  A God who is sovereign despite the world’s sin.

One night, as I sat discouraged, I opened my Bible to these verses.

Matthew 11:28-30

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

This is the God we serve.  He carries all of our hurts and happiness.  He understands when our hearts feel heavy beyond measure.  He is the only one who can grant true peace and rest for our souls.  No matter the situation.

I heard CeCe Winans share in a podcast recently about waiting.  She shared that in the waiting room, there may very well be crying.  Waiting is hard, but what is our posture while waiting?

1 Corinthians 10:12-13

If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.

In seasons of waiting and disappointment, I want my eyes focused on God.  It’s very hard not to waver or feel sorry for myself, but focusing on God’s faithfulness recenters my purpose.  I’m thankful that just as we come to Christ for rest from weariness, He provides direction and guidance.  If we stay close to Him, no disappointment will keep us down forever.