Practical Help for the Little Broken-Hearted Ones

In the last post, we looked at a broken-hearted child in a broken home.  We looked at Scriptural truths that she can cling to.  When you work with children you know how very real their pain is.  In your heart you say, "Oh, I just wish I could take them all home with me!"  But the reality is that we cannot.   So what are some practical helps we can give them to not just survive, but thrive, in the homes in which God has chosen to place them.

1. First, determine whether the child knows the Lord Jesus as their own Saviour.  Only then will they have the power of God to draw upon to help them have victory through the difficulties of this life.  Remind them that God the Holy Spirit lives in them.  Remind them of how very much God loves them and that they belong to Him.  Remind them of Jesus' promise that He will never leave them nor forsake them.  Remind them that they have been given a new life in Christ to live for His glory.  

2. Encourage the child to be in the Word of God daily and give them a plan to use so they can actually do it.  I have a chart made up that goes through the book of Mark.  It tells what verses to read each day and has a space in which the child can write down one thing that they learn from those verses.  The child only reads about 10 verses each day, so it is very do-able.  You can do that for any book of the Bible.  Ask the child what God has been teaching them from His Word the next time you see them.  

3. Pray with the child right there and then when they talk with you about their situation or difficulty.  Tell them you will continue to pray for them, and then make sure you DO!

4. Encourage the child to pray when the difficulty raises its ugly head again.  Give them suggestions as to how they can pray.  
If it's a people issue, encourage them to pray for the  the person who troubles them.  Encourage them to pray that God will be at work in that person's life for good, and for their salvation.  They can ask God to give them grace and patience to respond to that person in a kind way.  
If it's a circumstance, the child can pray for God to give them wisdom, peace, and the strength to endure.                             

5. I tell the child that people are watching them.  If they say that they know the Lord Jesus as their Saviour, others will watch to see if knowing Christ really makes a difference in a life.  If they can respond to difficulties in a way that honors God, they will have opportunity to tell others about Him.  "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:16)

God is not arbitrary.  He has chosen this home for this child.  He knows what He is doing. He knows what He is preparing them for.   He is using these difficulties in their lives for their good- to grow them to be more like the Lord Jesus.   

Our job is to uphold these little ones in prayer, to be available to counsel and encourage them in the Word of God, and to be there for them when they need a shoulder to cry on and arms to wrap around them in love.  

"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good 

to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 

For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined 

to become conformed to the image of His Son..." 

(Romans 8:28-29)

Share Your Story

Are you able to share your salvation testimony succinctly and in a way that honors the Lord?

For the past several years, I have had the joy of working with children in a camp setting each summer.  During the week, I try to visit one-on-one with as many children as possible about where they are spiritually.  After spending some time talking about what they like best about camp and what they are learning from the Bible lessons, I will ask them, “Do you know for sure where you will spend eternity?”  If they tell me “yes” and that they are going to Heaven, my next question is, “How do you know that?”  The standard response is, “Because I’m saved.”  To which I will ask, “Can you tell me about it?”

Here are some examples of a typical testimony I will hear:

“I got saved when I was 5.”

“My mom prayed with me and I got saved.”

“My dad showed me some verses and prayed and I got saved.”

While these things may all be true, they don’t give the complete story. 

When working with children, I try to teach them the importance of covering the main points of the gospel message in their testimony.  Their salvation testimony is their story of what Christ has done for them.  It is an instrument they can use to share the gospel with their friends.  We work on them being able to share their testimony in such a way that after hearing their story, the listener would know how to be saved from their sins and brought into a relationship with God if they so desired.  Plus, I believe being able to answer the following questions gives the child himself more confidence to share his testimony publicly because he has a better understanding of what God has actually done for him. 

I have them answer these questions:

• ·         WHY did you need to be saved?  What was the problem?
• ·         WHO could save you?  Why does He have the ability to do that?  What did He do for you?
• ·         WHEN and HOW were you saved? (This is the part where they share the details of their personal experience.)
• ·         How do you KNOW that you’re saved? (This is where they share a Bible verse that assures them of what God has done for them.  This has nothing to do with their feelings.)

I try to emphasize that the main character of this story is the Lord Jesus.  It is not so much about what the child did, but about what the Lord Jesus has done for them.  I also encourage them to use Bible verses in their testimony.  God’s Word is truth.

Here are the salvation testimonies of two of my children, written using this format:

Seth:

When I was 6 years old, my family was having our Bible time in the afternoon.  We were talking about the Lord’s return.  I started to cry because I knew if the Lord came back that day I would not be ready.  My mom and I went back to her room to talk.  I knew that I needed to be saved because I was a sinner.  I had told many lies and I knew that Revelation 21:8 says that all liars will have their part in the lake of fire.  I knew that as a sinner I deserved to spend eternity in hell.  But then we read 1 Timothy 1:15- “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.”  I understood that Jesus had died on the cross for my sins and took the punishment that I deserved.  I told my mom that I wanted to be saved.  She told me to talk to the Lord about it, so I prayed and asked the Lord to save me.  I know that my sins are forgiven because Acts 16:31 promises, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.” 

Eric:

          I was raised by parents who knew and served the Lord.  They taught me the gospel at an early age, but I never acted upon it.  I thought I was a good person and went through life without thinking of my need for salvation.  But more and more, I became aware of my sin, and I knew that I could not be good on my own.  Romans 3:10 says, “There is none righteous, not even one.” 

          One evening at Bible club, when I was nine years old, the teacher taught a lesson on eternity.  He said that all men were sinners, and sin leads to death and hell.  Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death.”  I knew that I was on my way to hell, a place of eternal darkness, torment, and separation from God.  There was only one way to be saved from this horrible punishment.  God loved me so much that He sent His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ to earth as a man.  He died and shed His blood on a cross, bearing my sin and punishment.  He later rose from death so that I could have eternal life. All that was left for me to do was to believe and accept His sacrifice for my salvation.

          When I went home that night, I knew the most important decision of my life lay just ahead.  I confessed my sin to the Lord, thanked Him for taking my place on the cross, and asked Him to take control of my life.  I know that I am saved because John 5:24 says, “He who hears my word and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.”  The Lord has been working to change me.  I want my life to glorify Him. 

"Then they said among the nations, 'The Lord has done great things for us.'"  

-Psalm 126:2