We Can Open Our Hearts After Being Hurt
Oh, dear Corinthian friends! We have spoken honestly with you, and our hearts are open to you. There is no lack of love on our part, but you have withheld your love from us. I am asking you to respond as if you were my own children. Open your hearts to us! 2 Corinthians 6:11-13 NLT
It is not easy to be vulnerable by opening our hearts to other people, especially when we have been hurt in the past. The abuses and disappointments we face in childhood, youth, or as adults cause us to lose trust in others. This can lead us to have a very lonely life, without meaningful relational bonds. However, the truth is that we were not created to live in isolation, but rather we are designed to live in relationship with other people and to be happier by having deep bonds of trust. Therefore, we need to learn to heal and recover the ability to connect with others, opening the doors of our hearts to connect with the right people.
- Heal the wounds of the past It is vital to allow the Lord to heal our inner selves so as not to bring emotional baggage into our present. Complexes and past wounds can ruin our new relationships and give us a distorted view of life if they are not restored.
- Set boundaries with toxic peopleWe must learn to separate from our circle of influence those who negatively affect us. We need to know how to say no to what is toxic in order to protect our minds and our hearts.
- Say yes to healthy bonds It is necessary to connect with healthy people who have God’s assignment to be part of our lives. Surrounding ourselves with the right people helps us to heal mutually and regain hope.
- Risk opening our hearts We can start by trying little by little with someone highly trusted. Just like someone entering the shallow end of a pool, we must build confidence step by step until we can swim in deep relationships.
Isolation and disconnection will never be the solution to our wounds; instead, they end up damaging us even more. Recognizing our deep need to relate emotionally is the first step to building bonds of love and high-trust connections with others. If we take the right steps and trust in the Lord, we will recover the joy and true sense of community in Christ.
Oh, dear Corinthian friends! We have spoken honestly with you, and our hearts are open to you. There is no lack of love on our part, but you have withheld your love from us. I am asking you to respond as if you were my own children. Open your hearts to us! 2 Corinthians 6:11-13 NLT
Think About It:
- What wounds from the past do I need to surrender to God to begin the process of healing my emotions and trusting again?
- To which relationships or people in my life do I need to learn to set healthy boundaries today?
- With which trusted person in the church can I take a small step this week to reopen my heart and cultivate a healthy bond?