“The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.”
Psalms 37:23-24 NLT

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”
Romans 8:28 NLT

My wife is a keeper of notebooks, journals, and notepads. They’re everywhere. They all have these unique designs and sayings on them. It’s like Target can see her coming and, if she passes by the notebook section, we’re not leaving Target without some type of cute notebook or journal.

The other day, I was walking through our bedroom at the house and I passed by her dresser. On top of her dresser, I saw a notepad with her handwriting on it. I picked it up because I’m nosy and I read a quote that said...
“A lot of things broke my heart but fixed my vision.”
Under my breath, I said a quiet “Amen.” As the day went on, I thought about those words. It was a fresh reminder for me that nothing is wasted.

When the Apostle Paul said that all things work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose, it includes the things that have broken your heart. I think sometimes we have a hard time imagining that bad things in our life are helping us. It’s difficult to be looking at the things that are breaking our hearts and imagine that somehow that could in some way we be a part of God’s plan to shape us and bring about his purpose in our lives.

I’ve been in local church ministry for 19 years, and I have been preaching the gospel since I was 16 years old. We quietly celebrated the 11 year anniversary of Oasis Church back in August of 2019. Through all of that, there have been so many things that have broken my heart. There have been moments of heartbreak, there have been seasons of heartbreak and there have been some situations that I thought wouldn’t just break my heart but would break me completely. In all of those things, the things that have broken my heart have fixed my vision.

Seeing people walk away from the church and walk away from the faith has broken my heart but fixed my vision by reminding me that people are broken and lost and in need of a Savior.

Seeing families torn apart by addiction has broken my heart but solidified a commitment in my spirit to be a church that will help those who find themselves bound by the spirit of addiction. We have to do more!
Seeing poverty in our city has broken my heart but reaffirmed in my spirit that we have to be a church that cares about the last, the lost, and the least in our city.
Experiencing heartbreak in relationships has broken my heart but reminded me to love, to care, and to be honest and open in conflict.
Seeing gossip hurt people over and over again has broken my heart but also stirred in me a desire to help people follow the Matthew 18 principle, to go to the people you have conflict with and work it out in a biblical way.

There were days early on in the process of planting Oasis Church that the grind and the lack of forward motion and growth almost broke me. It was heartbreaking trying to figure out why we were struggling, but those seasons helped to fix my vision on what could be and should be.
Even in this most recent season at our church, struggling to see the progress that I so desperately want to see, and knowing we’ve been in a season of plateau has broken my heart but it has also fixed my vision. It has reminded me that we are not the builders of the church. Jesus said He would build His church and not even the gates of hell could stop it.

So many times over the years, different moments and situations have broken my heart but those moments, those situations have also fixed my vision.

What are the moments, situations, relationships, and conflict that has broken your heart but, if you let it, will help to fix your vision?
How is God wanting to use that heartbreak in your life right now?

Remember the Psalmist said, your steps are ordered by the Lord. He delights in every detail of your life and He holds you by the hand. Let’s remember that in seasons of heartbreak.

Father, may I always remember to trust in You in the midst of moments and circumstances that are heartbreaking to me. I pray that I let You use those moments in my life to correct my vision and set me on a path of righteousness for Your name’s sake. God, use the good, the bad and the ugly of my life to bring You glory and honor. I ask all of this in Jesus’s name. Amen!