Heartaches—the world is full of them! A boy is mocked at school because he has an underdeveloped arm. A widow painfully remembers the day her husband committed suicide. Parents grieve over a rebellious son. A man tenderly cares for his wife, who has Alzheimer's disease and doesn't even know him. A minister resigns because of vicious lies told about him. A wife anguishes over her husband's unfaithfulness.

Such heartaches have caused some people to drop out of life. Other hurting folks have gone to the opposite extreme, trying to lose themselves in a flurry of activity.

We can learn how to handle our heartaches by looking at the life of Jesus. His heart was breaking as He contemplated what would happen to Jerusalem. He let Himself cry (Luke 19:41). Then He continued the work He came to do—confronting sin, teaching the people, and instructing His disciples.

If your heart is aching, admit your hurt to yourself, to others, and to God. This will open the door to receiving the help you need from the Lord and from people who care. Then choose to get involved in life by worshiping, loving, caring, and working. As you do, your deep hurt will lessen and your joy will increase.    — Herbert Vander Lugt