Shattered and Struggling—Interactions - The Warrior's Journey®

Shattered and Struggling—Interactions

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Below are some additional interactions on the article: Shattered and Struggling. Read it first.

411:

God’s Opinion
Malachi 2:16 “I hate divorce,” says the LORD God of Israel. “I hate it when one of you does such a cruel thing to his wife. Make sure that you do not break your promise to be faithful to your wife.”

Challenge:

After listening to some of the music and watching some of the videos below, consider this song by Bebo Norman. He talks about beginning to trust Jesus Christ with these shattered and struggling issues that you face. Here’s a video and words to the song below:

Tip of My Heart
Bebo Norman

It’s on the tip of my heart, the words to say
But I fall apart and I walk away
There’s an angry world pressed against my back
And at every turn I keep looking back
And I know you promise me
Love through eternity
So why can’t I just hold on
I want to live, I want to love
But I’m afraid my simple faith will never be enough
I want to laugh, I want to be set free
And let you hold all that my soul has deep inside of me
But I don’t know where to start
It’s on the tip of my heart
So would you take my hand, because I’m sinking in
To this life I’ve made, but don’t understand
The clock moves so slowly, but time goes so fast
In this whirlwind world that will never last
This love you’re giving me
It’s not just make believe
Help me just to hold one
You open the sky, and open my eyes
And all my fears are scattered away
So I walk in grace, because I’ve seen your face
You are all that matters to me
So I’m gonna live, I’m gonna love
I’m not afraid because your grace will always be enough
I’m gonna laugh, I’m gonna be set free
And let you hold all that my soul has deep inside of me
You have shown me where to start
It’s on the tip of my heart

Words:

This poem originally was published in Poems on Life – Teen Poems

“I am a 12 year old student. Not too long ago my parents went through a divorce. Sometimes, I feel very lonely and have to try and fight those feelings that lie deep in my mind.”

Loneliness
by Little T

Loneliness is blue like sadness.
It tastes like a sour lime with salt on it.
It smells like rotten food and causes madness.
For fun it likes to do nothing but bad things.
While almost everything makes it angry
Everything makes it sad,
But nothing makes it happy.
Loneliness is smaller than you and me,
But bigger than peoples’ minds.
Happiness is its enemy,
But nothing can be its friend.
Loneliness keeps its happy feelings in a secret place.
Its favorite place is in peoples’ minds.
But it hates to be anywhere else.
Making people feel bad is its greatest success.
Not cheering people up is its greatest failure.
Loneliness makes me feel as sad as a deserted island

Broken Kids

Another poem that contains lamenting a childhood broken by divorce. It’s actually a ‘srceamo’ song by Lewd Acts, but the video was so ridiculously absurd that it takes away from the powerful lyrics (I know, I just made a judgment call, but trust me on this one!)

Holes in my worn out clothes
I put my childhood over my ears
But it brings no warmth
And I want to forget these years
Holes in my worn out face
My mouth won’t miss the blood
And I can’t miss what I’ve never felt
So I won’t miss love
No I won’t miss love
Holes in my worn out genes
Ripped and torn at the knees
His blood moves through me
Like a spreading disease
I can feel the future
And I don’t want to be a part of the past
I hope with pins and needles
That a child of divorce can last
But all I know is this cold lament
And I can hear my brothers and sisters sing:
Broken kids from broken homes
Living broken lives like they’ve been shown
Broken kids from broken homes
All alone
All alone
Broken kids from broken homes
Living broken lives like they’ve been shown
Broken kids from broken homes
All alone
On their own

Quizical:

Are these questions that you’ve had concerning divorce or a struggling family?

Stories:

This is a short interview with a teen that talks about her parents going through divorce. Listen to her story and see if you identify with her. What advice would you give her?

Audio:

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Scripture:

Genesis 20:1–7

Genesis 21:9–14

Genesis 22:1–14

Small Group Guide:

SMALL & LARGE GROUPS – Seperation & Development SG

Video:

In today’s culture, it is fairly easy to find the pain of divorce felt by the kids related in many songs by a variety of groups. Obviously many of the artists are products of those shattered families. Here are some videos that pulse with great emotion!
Blink 182 “Stay together for the kids”

Humorous Look at the Broken Family by The Whitest Kids u Know

Nickelback “Too Bad”

Papa Roach “Broken Home” (Dad leaves family)

Papa Roach “Broken Home” Lyrics

Broken home
All alone
I can’t seem to fight these feelings
I’m caught in the middle of this
My wounds are not healing
I’m stuck in between my parents
I wish I had someone to talk to
Someone to confide in
I just want to know the truth
I just want to know the truth
Broken home
All alone
I know my father loves me
But does my father even care
If I’m sad or I’m angry
You were never ever there
When I needed you
I hope you regret what you did
I think I know the truth
Your father did the same to you
I’m crying day and night now
What is wrong with me I cannot fight now
I feel like a weak link
Push it back inside
It feels bad to be alone
Crying by yourself, living in a broken home
How could I tell it so y’all could feel it
Depression strikes me hard like my old earth would tell it
To me, her son, she told me I’m the one
Pain bottled up about to blow like a gun
Stories that I tell are nonfiction
And you can’t take it back cause it’s already done
Broken home

Large Group Guide:

SMALL & LARGE GROUPS – Separation & Development LG

Life Questions:

  1. Most likely, you or someone you know has gone through a divorce in their family. Bummer! It’s no fun. In fact it takes a toll on everyone, even if it results in a better family situation (like in cases of abuse). Take some time and write out the emotions you have felt because of a divorce, the ways things have changed in your family (loss or benefits), and ways you are coping now. Use that list as a guide to talk with someone about your response AND/OR use it as a prayer guide to discuss each feeling and result of your current situation with God. He certainly understands.
  2. In your journal or on a piece of paper draw a line down the center of the page. On the left hand side of the page make a list of some of the ways your family is struggling right now (angry words, financially strapped, no communication, stress of a deployment, etc.). On the right side write down ways you can think of to address that situation (this may involve other people as the source of help). Discuss this list with a trusted friend and/or and adult counselor, chaplain, Club Beyond leader so they can assist you in giving hope to what may seem like hopeless situations. Don’t accept the lie that nothing can be done about your family’s struggles. God understands the brokenness and pain and does offer hope and healing.

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