The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. Romans 8:18
Maybe you’re going through a nasty breakup right now—or, if you are like most people who’ve lived a few years, you can recall a time you went through one.
When you go through the kind of excruciating heartbreak (as most of us have) that brings you to your knees, you have a couple of choices. You can jump back right into your little black dress and into someone new’s arms—blotting out the pain and skipping the healing part completely. Or…. You can hit the pause button and become aware that God is present in every single anguishing moment of it— the anger, the blame, the confusion, the forgiveness. There’s a reason for all of it.
Believe me, we are all human… I can see why taking refuge in shiny, new relationships, is tempting. Healing is not for the weak. Purpose is not for the lazy.
When I went through a difficult breakup a few years ago I decided to stop, get still and listen. I knew I needed to recenter & R.E.S.T. And by that, I mean Release Every Sabotaging Thought.
So I took a whole year to be still. I invested inward. I listened. I listened to messages from Heaven, I read about a dozen books on personal and spiritual development. I got clear about my goals and I focused forward. I didn’t rush it – I committed to work through it.
So how can you turn your break-up into purpose-filled breakthrough?
(1) CHOOSE HEALING
The bravest thing you can do is CHOOSE to heal and to make that a proactive process. You choose to allow BAD to stand for Broken Angry & Defeated … or you can embrace your breakthrough and see yourself as Blessed And Determined. It’s a choice.
(2) SHIFT YOUR FOCUS
A break-up, like most experiences is about something much bigger than you anyway. God is probably trying to usher you into a new place and allow you to help more people. Yes, you! What can you learn from you circumstances that will help you and help others?
There is purpose waiting to emerge from a place of pain. Pain is never intended to be permanent.
(3) ASK GOD THE RIGHT QUESTIONS
Stop asking the small question: “God, what do you want me to DO?” He rarely answers that question. Instead start asking the big one: “God, who do want me to BECOME?” That one takes courage and will require ACTION and spiritual maturity. The calling I ended up discovering was a lot bigger than anything I could have dreamed up. I never would have gotten it if I hadn’t paused and shifted the focus from self to divine service.
So what do bad breakups and divine purpose have in common?
People rush through both—they don’t stop and listen for God. And, BELIEVE me, if you’re in a messed up situation and you don’t deal with it, you’re only going to mess up the next situation. When you rush into the next relationship, you’re actually saying to God, “I can’t be used for your highest purpose because I’m not willing to go thru the process. I want what’s easy—not what’s divine. What’s divine takes time.”
So… if you are in that post-breakup place, know that everything you’re going through did not happen toyou….it happened for you. For your purpose. So stop. Listen. REST. And, focus forward by focusing on your purpose.