Valentine’s is a tricky holiday. It stirs up love, hope, longings, but also pain and disappointment. Memories. Hurts. And so, with a tender heart, I write about a love that I have learned, tasted and seen, a love that now anchors me through storms, heals shame, and enables me to flourish. The love of our Father, and the words he helped me write in my memoir, Love Letters from Poland. Poland was the place where I encountered his love. I’ll never be the same. Here’s an excerpt from my chapter, “Broken Treasures.”

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God spoke hope into my life in Poland as I strolled the Baltic beaches; My daughter, I can take what’s broken and rough and make it smooth. You are not too broken for me. As he promises in the book of Isaiah:

“I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.” Isaiah 42:16

I began to believe and feel God’s heart for me. I was never forsaken. He always had hope for me and my story. He was leading me out of the brokenness of depression onto a new path in Poland. I had seen much of my life as garbage, full of lies and shame of what I’d done and what had been done to me. My heart was sick from the constant pounding of lies. I struggled, relying only on my strength to overcome. You’re a failure. You hurt people. You’re an abuser. You’re worthless. You’re unloved. The enemy made his own violent waves—ones to harm and drown my hope. He had been effective for so long, but then the tides turned.

Jesus stepped in, arms wide, calling my name.

Sarah!

I let go and ran to him.

Jesus opens his arms and offers comfort, a safe hideaway from our suffering. He is not ashamed or surprised by our broken hearts. Don’t send him away like an unexpected houseguest. Instead, try inviting him in and allowing him to help you tidy up your life. He went to the cross for all of it.

Let Jesus in, friend. Let him bring beauty from your brokenness. Journal it. Tell a trusted friend or counselor. Bring the dark things to light so they don’t hold power over you anymore. Jesus knows. He is pursuing our hearts—as the apostle, Paul wrote:

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

The price Jesus paid on the cross is enough to overcome the darkest parts of our stories. You don’t need to clean up to receive his love, no, sweet friend. He’s the healer, the captive-freer, the lover of our souls. He has already overcome, bearing the cost of our sins, once and for all. Step into his love, friend. Let your story shine as his light radiates through your beautifully broken places.

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Would you love to keep reading or send this book to a friend? I have a Galentine’s special for $14.99 + free shipping with code GALENTINES for my US friends. 

International or prefer digital media? You can get my eBook for $1.49 on my website. 

My Galentine’s sale only lasts through the weekend. I’d love to get this hope in your hands along with a personalized note.