After a Breakup

READ: PSALM 34:4-18

“It’s over!” The shocking words crush you. “I’m breaking up with you.” Your emotions are in turmoil. What can you do? First of all, don’t bottle up the suffering, as this is damaging in the long term. Instead, acknowledge your pain. Take time to adjust. People tend to respond to breakups in a few different ways:

Sadness: The end of a relationship can feel like a bereavement. When you’ve become accustomed to spending time with someone and sharing your plans and dreams, losing them can create an aching void.

Deflation: Sometimes, after we experience a rejection, feelings of emptiness and low self-esteem can follow. “What is wrong with me? Why am I not good enough?” We might start wondering if we are inadequate.

Anger: It’s common to feel frustrated or bitter with yourself and/or the person who broke up with you. Thoughts can spiral. “Why was I such a fool? Why did you break up with me?”

So how can you cope in the aftermath of a breakup? Allow yourself grieving and alone time. Jesus took time to be alone with God. He took time to weep. And Jesus has compassion on you in this moment. He loves you with an unchanging, never-give-up kind of love. He invites you to come to Him and receive His comfort. And if you’re feeling angry, you can talk to God about it. Remember that anger comes with energy, so it helps to channel this energy into something positive like exercise, a sport, or a new project.

Breaking up with someone can be devastating. It hurts, and it can be hard to move on. Remember, you are loved deeply by the Creator. He made you on purpose and wants the best for you. If you’ve put your trust in Jesus, you can know that God will never abandon you. His love is divine and unfathomable. He understands your brokenness, your pain, and your innermost thoughts. As you look back on memories with the person you dated, you can rely on His comfort. And as you move forward, you can follow His trustworthy leading. • Cindy Lee

• What questions do you have about dating? Who is a trusted Christian adult in your life you feel comfortable talking to about dating? (If no one comes to mind, you can ask God to help you identify someone in the future.)

He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds. Psalm 147:3 (CSB)