Allow God to Mend Your Heart

By Eddie Capparucci, Ph.D., LPC, CSAS

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. Isaiah 61:1-3

D-Day was the moment your life turned to ashes. You suffered a tremendous jolt that rocked your world and sent you tumbling into the depths of despair. My heart breaks for you, just as it does for those I hurt in the past. 

But your life does not need to remain a rubble of ashes. Instead, you can look at God's Word in Isaiah 61:3, in which He promises to turn your ashes into something positive. 

I know that sounds impossible. You may think, "God must not understand the depth of my pain." However, that is not true. God watched his Son be tortured and die on the Cross. God understands pain. God weeps for you. God weeps with you.

This verse speaks of restoration to your shattered world. God wants to exchange your ashes for beauty, your mourning for joy, and your despair for praise. It is a process where God takes the brokenness and pain of our lives and transforms them into something redemptive.

You are a broken vase, and God wants to restore you into someone more beautiful than before. This transformation is possible because God is a master artist, a creator who delights in taking what is broken and making it whole again. This is the work God longs to do in your life. He wants to take the brokenness and the pain and craft them into a masterpiece that reflects His glory.

As you surrender your ashes to Him, He will create a resilient radiance within you. Surrender is the act of giving over your pain, your worries, and your fears to God. Let your roots dig deep into God's abundant love like a mighty redwood tree. Trust in His unwavering care and watch as He weaves your story into a tapestry of hope and resilience. Understand your ashes do not define you. Your worth and identity are not found in your circumstances but in God's unconditional love. You are held by a God who transforms brokenness into everlasting beauty. He is the ultimate artist who takes your mess and turns it into a masterpiece. 

Trust Him with your ashes—your pain, your grief, your shattered pieces—and witness the miracle of His restorative power. This trust requires faith, believing God can and will work wonders even in the darkest circumstances. He will turn your mourning into joy, despair into praise, and ashes into a glorious display of His faithfulness. This is the promise of Isaiah 61:3, which God will keep for all who trust Him.

Dr. Eddie Capparucci is a licensed professional counselor certified in treating Problematic Sexual Behaviors. Among his many clients, he has worked with professional athletes, including NFL and MLB players and television personalities. He is the creator of the Inner Child Model™ for treating Problematic Sexual Behaviors. He is the author of

Going Deeper: How the Inner Child Impacts Your Sexual Addiction

Why Men Struggle to Love: Overcoming Relational Blind Spots

Understanding the Inner Child and Overcoming Addiction

Going Deeper for Women: How the Inner Child Impacts Your Love & Sex Addiction

Removing Your Shame Label: Learning to Break From Shame and Feel God’s Love. 

Dr. Capparucci is a member of the Christian Sex Addiction Specialists International board. He is the administrator of the websites www.MenAgainstPorn.org and www.SexuallyPureMen.com. Over the years, he has spoken to numerous organizations regarding the harmful impact pornography has on individuals, relationships, and society. He hosts a monthly webcast: Getting to the Other Side: Helping Couples Navigate the Road to Recovery. You can learn more about his Inner Child Model at www.innerchild-sexaddiction.com.