Lord, Break My Heart

I am ashamed.

Have you read Katie Davis’ story? If you are not familiar with Katie Davis, she is your average, girl next door from Tennessee who loves Jesus. It’s as simple as that. After high school, Katie decided she wanted to spend a year doing mission work in Uganda. Needless to say, her parents were speechless by her urgent desire to go to Uganda. Katie and her mother had visited the country for three weeks earlier that year, and God kept Uganda on Katie’s mind from that point on. She fell in love with the country. And she fell in love with the children. God laid it on her heart to return to Uganda and to trust He would take care of the rest. And so she went. And she stayed.

You can read more of Katie’s story here.

{photo c/o Amazima.org}

Wow. First of all, I praise God for this young woman and the desires He has placed on her heart. We all wish to be used for the Kingdom in some way or the other. Katie was willing to give it all, no matter what. Can we say that today, friends? Are we willing to give it all no matter what?

Secondly, I am ashamed to admit that I really haven’t spent much time thinking about or praying for the poor and oppressed overseas. Honestly, I haven’t spent much time thinking about the poor and oppressed here in my hometown. It wasn’t until I began work with The Lighthouse Rescue Mission in the fall of 2014 that God truly began to open my eyes. The children and mothers at The Lighthouse touched my heart. While I know I can’t singlehandedly rid the city of Hattiesburg (let alone the whole world – even though I so wish I could…) of the seemingly endless cycle of homelessness and poverty, I know the one thing I can do. I can show them love.

Love. What a beautiful and powerful gift God’s love is! He loves us. He truly, deeply and compassionately loves us. Despite all we have done. Despite all of our many failures. I have failed to see the homeless and the orphaned as God’s children. It breaks my heart thinking about my missed opportunities to show God’s love.

I am so thankful that the Lord has broken my heart for the poor and oppressed. I have met so many beautiful souls and loved on many little children through the years. What more could we be missing out on? Can we all rally together to show love to those around us?

Lord, break our hearts.