The poetry on this painting says, “She let her heart break wide open, so God could fill the empty space inside.”

Sometimes we’re afraid to acknowledge our pain and open up ourselves to God. The people in our life may just be too wrapped up in their lives or too uncomfortable to sit with us in grief and pain, so we stuff it. But we were not made to turn emotions on and off like a faucet. We cannot block out negative feelings and only allow in good feels. When we shut ourselves off from the pain, we also shut ourselves off from the joy. If we give it all to God, all the ugly, all the mess, all the hurt, we can move through it. The people in our lives might not be able to help us, but God will fill up every space you allow Him in, including your pain. I’ve seen it.