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You are here: Home / Community / Our Walled-Off Hearts | Guest Post by Mary DeMuth (Plus a Giveaway)

May 9, 2014 by Tricia Goyer 47 Comments

Our Walled-Off Hearts | Guest Post by Mary DeMuth (Plus a Giveaway)

heartpillow

Our Walled-Off Hearts

Recently, a reader on my blog wrote something quite astute: “As much as tearing the walls down hurts, it doesn’t seem to be as painful as maintaining them.”

We live in a walled-off world—walls we erect because we’ve been hurt by someone or several someones. It seems easier (and safer) to protect our hearts at any cost, brick by brick. But the problem comes when that wall becomes the very fortress that prevents joy in our lives.

I’ve so been there.

I’ve suffered relational heartache. So much so that my walls became towers of protection, and I hid my heart from risking with people. Because people are shifty, and, in my mind, were bent on hurting me. Better to build, brick by brick.

But if I’m completely honest with you, I am sad to say I’ve caused relational heartache. I’ve injured. I’ve been the cause of other people building walls. I wish it weren’t so.

So here we sit with pain between us and the people in our lives. We’ve hurt. They’ve hurt. And the wall grows.

There has to be a way through, right? There must be more to life than expending extreme amounts of energy in self-protection and preservation. What if we could find a way through the pain?

I believe there is, which is why I wrote The Wall Around Your Heart: How Jesus Heals You After Others Hurt You.

As I walked through my own relational pain and learned to deal with the bitterness that had enabled me to build a huge wall around my heart, I knew the only way out was Jesus. As the most openhearted person to walk this earth, all I could do was ask Him to please-please-please show me how to move on and live the joyful life that always seemed elusive to me.

And He showed me. Boy did He show me—through His own words.

The Wall Around Your Heart is the journey I took from embittered to openhearted, from living in reaction to the past to living joyfully in the present tense. The pathway I take you through is simply this: The Lord’s Prayer.

Did you know that this prayer is relational? Did you know there are secrets embedded in this prayer that will help you move on after heartache? Did you know this ancient roadmap will teach you how to have the life you’ve longed for—a life of abundance and hope—even after people hurt you again?

After reading The Wall Around Your Heart, not only will you reframe your relationships and learn to live openhearted, but you’ll never pray The Lord’s Prayer the same way again. This pathway has utterly, truly changed my life, and it’s my sincere prayer that it will radically alter the course of your life.

So if you’ve built a great big wall around your heart and you’ve finally grown tired of living in isolated fear, consider picking up The Wall Around Your Heart.

Tear those walls down you’ve built around yourself! #giveaway @MaryDeMuth @TriciaGoyer

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Steps You can Take

  1. Read through the Lord’s Prayer using the PDF here. Ask, which part of the prayer am I having the most difficulty with in my relationships?
  2. Ask a close friend, “Where do you see me putting up walls around my heart?” Dare to listen!
  3. Write a letter of forgiveness to someone who has hurt you. Don’t mail the letter.
  4. Look over your past two weeks & how you’ve interacted with your family. If you feel you’ve done something worth apologizing for, dare to take that first step and say, “I’m sorry. Will you forgive me?”

Prayer

Jesus,

I don’t want to have a great big wall around my heart. I realize it protects me, but it also prevents real joy in my life. Give me the guts and bravery I need to tear the wall down, risk again in healthy relationships, and be an openhearted person. Give me courage, Jesus, because I need it.

Amen.


About Mary

marydemuth-headshot-squareMary DeMuth is an author and speaker who loves to help people live uncaged, freedom-infused lives. She’s the author of fifteen books, including six novels and her critically acclaimed memoir, Thin Places. After church planting in Southern France, Mary, her husband, and their three teenagers now live in a suburb of Dallas. Find out more at marydemuth.com.


About The Wall Around Your Heart and a Giveaway

The Wall Around Your Heart (Jpeg Format)

Family members hurt us. Friends betray us. Fellow Christians deceive us. But Jesus provides a path through the pain—the Lord’s Prayer.

In The Wall Around Your Heart, Mary DeMuth shows you that you can reach wholeness and healing in the aftermath of painful relationships by following the road map of the Lord’s Prayer. You’ll walk through story after story of hurt people who are led through biblical truth into amazing, life-sustaining, joyful growth.

Life is hard. People can be mean and petty and awful. But they can also be amazing and beautiful and sacrificial. God is good. He is faithful. You can trust him with your relationships. “He’ll send people to call out what is hard in your heart,” Mary shares. “And that’s a gift to you.”

Allow God to access the wall around your heart. Dare to say, “Tear down the bricks, Lord, whatever it takes.” Pray first. Ask for bravery—for yourself and for others. Risk engaging despite your hurt. Seek the shelter of Jesus.

You don’t have to resign yourself to your wounds! You can rise above the pain. You’ll usher in a new life—an openhearted way of relating to others that expands the kingdom of God. In the process, you’ll draw closer to Jesus, be healed, and become an agent of healing to others.

Mary is giving away SIX copies of The Wall Around Your Heart! Enter below. Only those in the U.S. are eligible to win.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Filed Under: Community, connect, giveaway, guest post Tagged With: community, giveaway, hearts, honesty, mary demuth


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Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” Read full privacy policy here.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jen @ Growing in Faith says

    May 9, 2014 at 6:08 am

    This is something the Lord has been laying on my heart recently, and something He’s been working on. Too many walls….but He’s helping me dismantle them, brick by brick.

    Reply
  2. Joanne Viola says

    May 9, 2014 at 6:50 am

    I loved Mary’s “Everything” & would love to read this one as well. To answer the question, at this point in time, I am not sure how to tear down the wall regarding some relationships. Thanks for the opportunity! Blessings!

    Reply
  3. Gail Hollingsworth says

    May 9, 2014 at 9:19 am

    Love reading the blog. And I love give-a-ways, thanks!

    Reply
  4. Terrie Coleman says

    May 9, 2014 at 10:06 am

    Being intentionally vulnerable and transparent is one way I’ve found to help dissolve the walls in a relationship. It’s tough to intentionally lay down my defenses (and the right to be right) when I know I may be hurt. But sometimes it’s the only way healing can happen. Living crucified.

    I appreciate your books, Mary, and would like to read this one, too.

    Blessings to you both.

    Reply
  5. Jennifer S says

    May 9, 2014 at 10:10 am

    It really resonates with me…I’ve sat surrounded by these walls that I’ve put up. As my husband once put it,
    you sit there inside your wall for days then you get up on top of the wall and look around and see that
    I’m on the other side. Then you yell, why are you over there? Why are you not here with me? Then you go back
    inside your walls…This woke me up. Suddenly, I started looking at my husband from his point of view…
    on the other side waiting for me to tear down the walls.

    Reply
  6. Sarepta says

    May 9, 2014 at 10:17 am

    I cannot do it myself! With God’s guidance and forgiveness I will begin this process. I also use the support of fellow Christian women. A huge blessing in my life!

    Reply
  7. jennifer w. says

    May 9, 2014 at 10:18 am

    thank you for the giveaway. this book is on my wish list.

    Reply
  8. Julie Smith says

    May 9, 2014 at 11:31 am

    This can only be accomplished through prayer and the Holy Spirit. By my own strength, the inner ‘me’ does not truly desire to be exposed, and is content to communicate with God, alone.

    Reply
  9. Mandy M says

    May 9, 2014 at 11:59 am

    Can’t wait to read the book to see HOW to tear down the walls 🙂

    Reply
  10. Jennifer Smith says

    May 9, 2014 at 12:26 pm

    To me, the only answer that’s foolproof–though it still takes time–is prayer. My teenage years were painful (mostly because of my own choices), but over a decade later, I can say I truly feel the Lord has totally healed me from those wounds.

    Reply
  11. RUTH SMITH says

    May 9, 2014 at 2:37 pm

    I have built a huge wall around my heart since my son died suddenly Jan 18, 2014. I loved him so much and he was my world, was what I lived for every day of my life. When he died so suddenly, I blamed God and swore I would never love again. Ya see I had wanted a baby boy since I was about 5 yrs old when I learned my Daddy had another name besides Daddy. His name was Samuel and I thought that was the prettiest name I had ever heard! So from then on, all my doll babies were Samuels, Sammys, Sambo, Sam and even the girl dolls were Sammi, Samantha, Samela, etc etc. Then I met this handsome man named Samuel !! whose Dad’s name was also Samuel!!! I knew this was who I was going to marry! And we did and had our little Samuel that I had always wanted!! Life was so good and I was so happy for 46 years 9 mos. 3 days. Now my life is over and the wall is built that I do not want to love again, dont want to talk or hear about Jesus, dont want to live. Why? because loving and losing has hurt so bad, that I will never love like that again. My heart is in a million pieces.
    I did enjoy your interview and the review of your book and it sounds like a good one, Thanks for the opportunity to enter your giveaway and maybe if I should win it, there may be something in it that would help me. I love reading all the Christian romance and suspense books but a lot of the things that are spoken concerning the Grace of God, I no longer believe. I was a good mother, devoted and loyal, and was a Christian and lived right, but still it mattered not.

    Reply
  12. bn100 says

    May 9, 2014 at 2:59 pm

    with help

    Reply
  13. Sierra Faith says

    May 9, 2014 at 4:13 pm

    Book looks very interesting!

    Reply
  14. Mary Tullila says

    May 9, 2014 at 5:18 pm

    This post is timely for where I am again today. So ready to break that wall DOWN.

    Reply
  15. Rebecca Miller says

    May 9, 2014 at 5:59 pm

    Can’t wait to read the book. I’ve built a wall around my heart and know that I can’t tear it down without Jesus Christ. I pray that God will reveal to me how to get past my hurts and how to have the joyful life that he has planned for me.

    Reply
  16. Connie R. says

    May 9, 2014 at 6:46 pm

    One way I build walls is to not continue to have a full relationship with those who have hurt me. There are people I purposely keep on the outskirts so that I don’t have to deal with them.

    Reply
  17. Sylvia Alonzo says

    May 9, 2014 at 9:41 pm

    I dont know how I’m going to do it but I will pray for God to lead me.

    Reply
  18. Amanda Geaney says

    May 10, 2014 at 6:58 am

    I plan to tear down the walls around my heart by writing the letter you suggested. I’ve done this before where I’ve sent the letter, perhaps not sending it would be better. The person I addressed my letter to didn’t feel like he had done anything that he needed forgiveness for.

    Reply
  19. bonnie walker says

    May 10, 2014 at 7:18 am

    Hopefully by reading this book I will learn how to tear down the walls. I probably need to forgive and forget any who have wronged me.

    Reply
  20. Janet Estridge says

    May 10, 2014 at 7:23 am

    By staying grounded in the Word of God and by lots of prayer.

    Reply
  21. Erica says

    May 11, 2014 at 5:39 pm

    I don’t have a plan because I don’t really know how. Would love a chance to win this book 🙂

    Reply
  22. Lori P says

    May 11, 2014 at 5:39 pm

    Looking forward to reading this. Thank you for the giveaway 🙂

    Reply
  23. Jackie McNutt says

    May 11, 2014 at 6:17 pm

    I recently started praying the Lord’s Prayer every morning and have tried to focus on each line by adding praise and thanksgiving after each verse
    I am very inspired by your post and will add these thoughts to my prayer.
    Thank you and Blessings,

    Reply
  24. Lisa Watson says

    May 12, 2014 at 4:36 pm

    I have been trying to destroy the walls by attending church., talking with others about my struggles, asking others to pray and attempting to be open with God.

    Reply
  25. Catherine S says

    May 12, 2014 at 4:41 pm

    I’m going to begin praying the Lord’s Prayer daily and asking God to break down the walls that I have built around myself.

    Reply
  26. Carol G says

    May 12, 2014 at 5:00 pm

    Its so difficult to do. Maybe the first step I need to take in tearing walls down is realizing I have built some up in the first place. Not with everyone, but most definitely with some. Those I’ve been hurt by ( when I thought things were healing). And those that outwardly appear to play those relationship type games.
    Sounds like a great read and a must read for me. Awesome giveaway!

    Reply
  27. Ann says

    May 12, 2014 at 5:05 pm

    I needed this today.

    Reply
  28. Danielle Hicks says

    May 12, 2014 at 5:15 pm

    I plan to make a conscious and concentrated effort to do so, while remaining much in prayer. I cannot do anything on my own, but with Jesus, I can!

    Reply
  29. Saundra M says

    May 12, 2014 at 5:23 pm

    That is a very hard thing to do, but with my husband’s help, I am slowly chipping away at my wall. It is about half gone now. I want to kick the wall down!

    Reply
  30. Sharon Timmer says

    May 12, 2014 at 5:41 pm

    I have to Daily ask the Lord to help me keep forgiving the person who keeps betraying my trust!

    Reply
  31. Lisa murray says

    May 12, 2014 at 5:47 pm

    With prayer & faith those walls can come down

    Reply
  32. Charis says

    May 12, 2014 at 5:58 pm

    Would love to win!

    Reply
  33. Deb Simmering says

    May 12, 2014 at 6:00 pm

    Love finding new authors to read. You need lots of faith and then you need to pray to bring down those walls.

    Reply
  34. Heather says

    May 12, 2014 at 6:29 pm

    I would love to have this book! I was just mourning the fact that I don’t have close friends in my life, probably because I have WALLS!!

    Reply
  35. Debbie Oliver says

    May 12, 2014 at 6:35 pm

    I plan to tear down walls I have built by making an effort to reach out and connect with others, instead of waiting for others to approach me. I am co-leading a ministry and volunteering at church to stay in community and make myself accessible to others. BIG change for me, but a much overdue one!

    Reply
  36. Crystal says

    May 12, 2014 at 6:46 pm

    I plan to tear down walls but not letting fear control my life any longer. I’ts been a lifelong struggle for me. It’s time to break them down!

    Reply
  37. Rita Navarre says

    May 12, 2014 at 7:46 pm

    I would love to read the book to help tear down my walls!

    Reply
  38. Joy says

    May 12, 2014 at 7:50 pm

    I am going to forgive and trust in God to me learn to trust in humans again.

    Reply
  39. D Stevens says

    May 12, 2014 at 8:31 pm

    Just to smile & rejoice in this day!

    Reply
  40. Gina Marqua says

    May 12, 2014 at 8:35 pm

    What a great idea for a book. We are so cautious when our feelings involve our family…it’s tough!

    Reply
  41. Faylin Myhre says

    May 12, 2014 at 11:34 pm

    The walls have to come down the same way they went up, one brick at a time. It has been a process that took decades. Really not sure where to start except to trust The Lord for guidance, wisdom, courage

    Reply
  42. Sharon says

    May 12, 2014 at 11:37 pm

    I don’t know if I have a wall around my heart or not. I feel like I am a very open person. But as I said that I realize that I am quite lonely. I have gotten used to my little life with my retired husband and our two puppy dogs. Other than my daughter and her husband and my husband’s daughter no one else comes over to our home. I rarely meet up with friends anymore. We attend church and eat out with another couple afterwards. We go to our small group and I participate in my women’s Bible Study but no one comes over to our home. I have created an isolated life. So maybe I do have walls. I need to pray about this situation and ask God what He wants of me.
    Thank you for your words and getting me to think about my life, Mary!

    Reply
  43. Heather says

    May 13, 2014 at 2:46 am

    Convicting!

    Reply
  44. Susan Fletcher says

    May 13, 2014 at 5:14 am

    Hard question to answer! I can only do it piece by piece with the Lord right there beside me. I need this book!
    susanlulu@yahoo.com

    Reply
  45. Charissa says

    May 13, 2014 at 1:20 pm

    Since I was a little girl I discovered that the easiest way to escape hurt was to build a wall around myself. I always envisioned myself in my own little garden, with a brick wall built all around me, and I believed I was at peace there. I found as I grew though that spiritually and emotionally I was stuck the same age of that little girl that lived within those walls. They were not only preventing close friends and family from reaching my heart, they were preventing God from doing the same. Since then I’ve learned to bring down those walls, through prayer, devotional time, reading, and painting. All things that I can do while spending one on one time with God. It is through Him only that I am slowly taking down those walls, one brick at a time.

    Reply
  46. Valorie M. says

    May 13, 2014 at 2:10 pm

    I am beginning a personal letter.writing campaign of sorts to the influential women in my life..
    Purposely beginning with some who have brought me great pain as well as investing in my life, declaring that even as I write to them of those positive memories, that I’m releasing forgiveness over them and healing/freedom in my own life.
    in Jesus’ Name!!!

    Reply
  47. Kelsey P. says

    May 13, 2014 at 3:55 pm

    I hope to tear down my walls through prayer and patience. Thanks for the give-away!

    Reply

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