RUTH 1:19-21
So the two women went on until they came to Bethlehem. When they arrived in Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them, and the women exclaimed, “Can this be Naomi?” “Don’t call me Naomi,” she told them. “Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The Lord has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me.”
HEBREWS 12:15
See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.
REFERENCES: EXODUS 15:22-25; PSALM 34:18, 147:3; MALACHI 4:5-6; JOHN 14:6-7, 18
Just change my name and call me Bitter. The troubles of the past have left me brokenhearted and I’m in total heartache for what seems to be just out of reach. That was the sentiment Naomi shared as she entered her hometown. On some level, while you probably didn’t have to travel from a foreign land, maybe you can relate. But, the world has lied to us that being bitter is OK if you have a reason or have been wronged. In this journey called life we get hurt or offended and often don’t deal with it, allowing bitterness to overtake us. God wants to heal us from our heartaches and heartbreaks that lead to becoming bitter. Your heavenly Father longs to have a relationship with you and heal you from all your heartaches and wounds. Even if you’re heartbroken, God can restore all the pieces. Don’t live a life in bitterness when you have a Father in heaven who is longing to give you joy and a future.
God can heal your broken heart but you have to give Him all the pieces
Heartache is felt when we long for something but never receive it. This can develop as early as childhood and we end up spending our adult life trying to fill that void. It isn’t uncommon for our view of God to act as a projection or rejection of our earthly fathers. But as we develop our relationship with Christ, his love heals our wounds through acceptance and grace. He leads us to the Father who declares that we are worthy.
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” —John 14:6-7
Whenever we lose an important relationship, we experience heartbreak. Whether we admit it or not, our brains and our bodies will register the loss as deeply painful. Thankfully, God has promised to be near us in our heartbreak so that He can heal the pain. Just as a broken bone needs time in a cast, your heart needs time to heal. Our part is to trust the work that God is doing.
Whether you are going through heartache or heartbreak, God is there with you. He wants to heal and restore the broken pieces of your heart. Maybe you’ve become bitter in the process, but when you add what Jesus did on the cross to the equation, that bitter season can turn into a sweet one. After you allow Him to heal your heart, you’ll want a relationship without needing one. You’ll see not just the mistakes of others, but you’ll acknowledge your own and learn from them. You’ll talk about that past situation with emotional control. And you’ll finally feel free to celebrate the happiness of others and look forward to the future God has for your life.
Take some time in the next week to reflect on any bitterness that may be in your life. Ask God to show you who, or what about yourself, you need to forgive.
Are you interested in leading a crew? Click here to fill out an application to become a crew leader in SZN 2!
VOUS High Nite is a night for Junior High and High School Students to meet friends, worship and encounter God. It will be taking place Wednesday, April 2nd at both VOUS SoMi and VOUS Miami Gardens at 7PM.
To RSVP, click here.
There will also be a VOUS High Nite Parent Hangout. This will be an opportunity to learn more about VOUS High, have some dinner and get to know other parents in our community.
To RSVP for the Parent’s Hang, click here.
Where: VOUS Miami Gardens & VOUS SoMi
When: Saturday, April 2nd
Address:
VOUS Miami Gardens - 17801 NW 2nd Ave
Miami, FL 33169
VOUS SoMi - 6767 Sunset Dr, Miami, FL 33143
Doors Open at 7PM.
Are you looking for a place to grow in leadership, community, and culture? Join us at VOUS College Preview Day on April 3rd to learn more about program offerings, connect with students, and ignite your journey to help fulfill the Great Commission!
RSVP now at vouscollege.com/preview
Where: VOUS Miami Gardens
When: Thursday, April 3rd
Address: 17801 NW 2nd Ave
Miami, FL 33169
The Easter Egg Drop is a family fun-filled day, including food, games, entertainment, and the crowd favorite: a helicopter egg drop with eggs stuffed with goodies and prizes!
For more information on the Easter Egg Drop, click here
If you are interested in serving, click here
Where: Charles Hadley Park
When: Saturday, April 19th
Address: 1350 NW 50th St
Miami, FL 33142
Join us for Easter at VOUS as we celebrate the power of the cross. This is a weekend for the whole family! Pick a service time and invite a friend — there's room for you.
Join us on the road to VOUSCon as we embark on a 40-day relay run through the state of Florida. From Jacksonville to Miami, runners from every region are invited to participate in carrying the good news. Our finish line? VOUSCon 2025. Led by a core VOUS team, we’ll link arms with partner churches along the way, spotlighting the body of Christ and championing the local church through weekly outreach initiatives.
Starting Line: Sunday, May 11
Finish Line: Thursday, June 19
VOUS SoMi
8:45AM / 10:30AM / 12:30PM / 6PM
VOUS City
10:30AM / 12:30PM / 6PM
VOUS Miami Gardens
10:30AM / 12:30PM
VOUS DD
10:30AM / 12:30PM
Church Online
10AM / 12:00 PM / 5PM Español
Growth Track
After every service or join online at vouschurch.com/growthtrack