Daily Devotionals

Broken heart syndrome, also known as stress cardiomyopathy, is a temporary weakening of the heart’s left ventricle, which causes it to balloon out and impairs the pumping action. On an EKG, it can look exactly like a heart attack, but unlike a heart attack, it isn’t caused by the blood vessels being blocked. Broken heart syndrome can be caused by the unexpected death of a loved one, losing a large amount of money, or some other sudden catastrophe. Strangely, sometimes this condition can even be caused by such positive situations as a surprise party or winning a lot of money.

While broken heart syndrome generally reverses itself within days or weeks, the broken hearts we acquire by living in a sinful world are more challenging to treat. That’s one of the specific reasons Jesus came to our planet—to heal our broken hearts by bringing us hope.

Quoting from Isaiah’s prophecy regarding the Messiah, Christ stated early in His earthly ministry: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted” (Luke 4:18).

Jesus suffered the most intense pain our world can inflict. He was betrayed by a friend for a mere pittance. Although innocent, He was beaten and horribly mistreated during His trial. During His torturous execution, He was mocked and ridiculed, and He was forsaken by most of His own disciples. No wonder the prophecy described Him as “despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53:3).

Is your heart broken today? Jesus has perfect empathy toward your pain, and through His sacrifice He offers you healing and peace. “He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). Have you accepted His compassionate offer?

Apply It:

Read Isaiah 53:4, and then thank Jesus for daily carrying your grief and sorrow, and ask Him to bring healing to your wounded heart.

Dig Deeper:

Psalm 31:24; Psalm 34:18; Hebrews 12:2