When Your Heart has Handles

Handles are great on handbags.  Handles are great on pots.  Handles are great on doors.  But handles were not meant for hearts.

When your heart has handles it is easily grabbed and moved from where it belongs.  A heart with handles has believed the lie that contentment is just around the corner and that if I only had x,y and z I would be happier than I am now.

Jeremiah 17:9 makes a culturally incinerating statement that: "The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked.  Who can understand it?"

When I hear statements like, "You just need to follow your heart,"  I see a heart growing another handle to be dragged hither and thither in an empty chase for satisfaction.  Our hearts were made to be grabbed by just one person.  His name is Jesus.  When he clasps our hearts close to his bosom, we find significance and worth.  He grips us like none other.  He holds on while we try to uncurl his fingers due to shame, guilt and rebellion.  He holds on while the world tries to tack on counterfeit handles to pull us from His all-consuming love.

May the Understander of our Heart sever all false handles in our lives and when we see the broken leather straps may we remember he was lashed for our iniquities and the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him.  As his hands opened on the cross to receive the nails, Jesus did something remarkable, he let go of his own heart.  There were no handles on his heart.  He released it willingly and his heart was torn in two from top to bottom like the veil in the temple.  Jesus was sent to bind up the broken-hearted and in the midst he broke his own.  Take hold of that and your heart will rest where it belongs.