At Gateway Church in Austin, we continued our series: Confessions From Your Pastors. John Burke shared about overcoming a wounded heart. You can watch the message at www.gatewaychurch.com/podcast and see the notes below.
To dig deeper and apply the message, work through the Next Steps.
Here’s a summary written by one of those part of our South Campus:
John Burke headed into his sabbatical last spring running on fumes. He was trying to figure everything out, serve lots of people, make big decisions, and he was spent. He didn’t feel like doing any of it, and he heard God ask him, “John, what are you doing?!”
One day, John heard a Coldplay song that hit home. The chorus said, “Let’s go back to the start.”
John was reminded of the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 19:4-7. Elijah was trying to follow God while everyone around him was worshiping false gods and prophets were being killed. Elijah was frustrated with God and was tired of trying so he laid down to die. He fell asleep and when he woke up an angel told him to eat the bread and drink the water beside him as he would need his strength in the days ahead. Elijah went back to sleep and when he woke up, there was more bread and water. When he had regained strength, he traveled for 40 days and nights and was hanging out in a cave when God said, “What are you doing, Elijah?”. Just like God said to John.
Elijah told God to go stand on the mountain (to be in God’s presence). That’s what John learned. He doesn’t have to figure it all out but going back to the start, simply being in God’s presence has helped John to remember that it’s as simple as that. Go back to the start.
“Above all else, guard your heart because everything you do flows from it.” – Proverbs 4:23
John said that when we are wounded we:
- have a loss of joy
- protect ourselves from further wounds
- experience a deep sadness
- become defensive
- become easily offended and frustrated
- lose a love for people
- agree with lies
In the next 4 weeks at Gateway we will talk about how God heals the broken heart.
“God heals the broken hearted and binds up their wounds.” – Psalm 147:3
