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The Mended Heart: God's Healing for Your Broken Places

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Brokenness happens. Tragedy, sin or the painful choices of others all have the ability to disrupt an otherwise contented life. And as a result of our heartache, we often attempt to fix our own brokenness--with disastrous results.
If you've tried to heal, but keep ending up in the same place--whether the battle is in your heart or out in the open where everyone can see--"The Mended Heart" is for you. In this book, author Suzanne Eller tells it like it is: people throw quick fixes at you, or tell you to pull yourself up by your bootstraps (whatever that means). More important, though, she shares the powerful truth of Jesus' mission as outlined in Luke 4:18-21: He came to set free all those who are oppressed and in need of mending.
You don't have to fix yourself--Jesus loves you right where you are. In fact, He has already completed the work that needs to be done. "The Mended Heart" will encourage you to trust Him, to give and receive grace, and to move ahead even stronger than before ... even if others don't move with you.

237 pages, Paperback

First published February 20, 2014

62 people are currently reading
701 people want to read

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Suzanne Eller

19 books41 followers

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5 stars
234 (54%)
4 stars
140 (32%)
3 stars
40 (9%)
2 stars
13 (3%)
1 star
6 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
Profile Image for Holly Barrett.
25 reviews4 followers
June 12, 2014
The resiliency of the human spirit has always amazed me. Like when an F5 tornado rips through a town and a homeowner has the wherewithal to stand next to the wreckage of his house and talk to the news media. Something deep inside us rises to the surface at those times and pushes us forward to pick up the pieces and start all over again.

I’ve talked to many people who have experienced a similar carnage in their spiritual life. Sin blows through and leaves a pile of rubble in its wake. But oftentimes those people can’t find the resiliency needed to face the future. They think they are too far gone…past forgiveness…unlovable and useless in God’s kingdom.

What I loved about Suzanne Eller‘s book, The Mended Heart: God’s Healing for Your Broken Places is that she constantly reminds us that we are never too far gone for God’s redemption. Drawing on her own journey with the Lord, as well as sharing the stories of women she knows, Suzanne encourages and challenges us to not sit on the pile of rubble, but to invite God in to do His work of healing. She is not afraid to confront some tough issues too, like how our hearts can be broken by the church or by our own sin. Because really these are the places where we get lost.

The truth is that none of us is past redemption. God isn’t afraid of our sin, our pain, our questions. So there’s truly no reason to try to hide. There’s no reason not to let Him do His work in our lives.

It’s not easy. I would never tell you that it is and Suzanne doesn’t gloss over the hard work either. I remember the days when I thought the pain of the past surely wasn’t as bad as the pain of the recovery process. But it was and it is. And Suzanne’s words reminded me that in the pain of recovery, God was walking right by my side. I was not alone. You won’t be either.

The good news is that when we allow God to take our broken hearts and mend them, we don’t have to wait for our reward. The payoff is ours in the form of healing and wholeness. Not perfection. Not something we’ve done ourselves. But a work of God done in us that results in a life we only dreamed of before. Suzanne says,

The time you spend in His presence…will gradually change how you think, which changes who you are in your thoughts, which will begin to reflect the words of Jesus imprinted on your heart.

Our God is big enough to handle anything uncovered in the rubble of your life. Maybe today you need to take just one step towards letting Him begin sifting through it all. Maybe reading Suzanne’s book will be that step. Whatever it is, you won’t regret it. I can promise you that!
Profile Image for Alice.
6 reviews1 follower
October 16, 2014
Not the soppy girl talk I was expecting, but a pretty damn thorough exploration of heart break and things that can crush a woman beyond repair- but the hope of Jesus changes things! Loved the bible studies and questions. They were pertinent to my situation and really brought clarity from confusion! Love how vast the scope is, from divorce, death, sex crime, loss of security, teenage mistakes etc.
Profile Image for Jennifer Wells.
263 reviews2 followers
September 20, 2021
Not a good book and don’t recommend. Extremely depressing and not insightful. I started this book in February 2018 with a girl in my small group who wanted to be discipled and then her commitments changed so the book was on my bed stand shelf for a long time. I found it after my last move and knew I always need to finish books that I start.

Did not like it. There were a few nuggets in the book that I liked so I couldn’t get myself to rate one star (one star for me actually equals negative stars), but definitely not a keeper book. I recycled it already. The author was a little braggy too about being a public speaker and author, and I’ve definitely never heard of her before. If I do again, I will make sure not to participate.

Not trying to be rude, but honest. My reviews are raw and truthful.
Profile Image for Gina.
233 reviews178 followers
August 15, 2015
I enjoyed this book. Suzie Eller covers topics like: divorce, death, physical abuse, insecurities & growing up.
I enjoyed that she constantly reminds us that God is right beside you! He will redeem you through & in every situation. Through the stories in the book, Eller encourages & challenges us to get out of the comfort zone & invite God in to do His work of healing. We're confronted to deal with the tough issues like hearts broken by the church, our own sin, or sins of others.
The time you spend in His presence will gradually help you to be bigger, better, stronger! Just trust Him to mend your heart. Read this book. It will help you.
Profile Image for Teresa Marine.
253 reviews6 followers
July 17, 2015
Amazing Read. I have been broken...God has healed me, however, the process is slow. It is good to have this book study to help along the process. Suzie gives practical help to those of us who need a little nudge to Move Forward - and get out of the Limbo of our lives. Highly recommend this book.
Proverbs 31 OBS study!
Profile Image for Kelly Hodgkins.
612 reviews35 followers
October 29, 2015
This book, elegantly written and full of grace, covers so many kinds of hurts. It gives hope and practical, biblically based, advice to work on moving forward and looking to the future. I highly recommend it
Profile Image for Julia Reffner.
112 reviews48 followers
July 30, 2015
Loved this book! Read for p31 Online study. Great mix of stories of real women with Bible verses and application. Great application for the things that hurt our hearts whether it be our own sin, others, or just the brokenness of the world.
476 reviews5 followers
February 9, 2018
The further I read into the book the better it got. I found so many of the chapters helpful. I especially liked the chapter about how your mind can become a stronghold and likening it to a playground that we keep revisiting and don't want to leave. We replay events in our mind, we think about what we should've said or want to say to a person. We can play the hero or the victim over and over again in our minds. I'd highly recommend this book.
Profile Image for Amdaniels07.
23 reviews2 followers
November 2, 2022
This has by far been one of the best books I have ever read. It was more than I expected. Suzanne Ellet has written in a way that demonstrates she truly understands the pain our hearts go through, even as daughters of the King. Yet she has gracefully poured out the truth of what Christ has to offer in all these broken places.
Profile Image for Katie.
117 reviews1 follower
August 6, 2018
Too brief. Meant as a small group study type of thing. So the content was only covered superficially. Not what I was looking for when I picked it up. I don't feel like it said anything "new" - but I don't know that it needed to necessarily.
26 reviews
February 26, 2019
There is so much in this book, it's hard to even know where to start. It wasn't an instructional/handbook, but it gave plenty of points on how to live in Jesus. It wasn't an autobiography, but there passages that spoke to the author's past. All in all it was an authentic book and spoke to my heart!
Profile Image for Rachel.
1,185 reviews
September 27, 2025
I had high hopes for this book because of the title, but I was unable to connect with Part 1. It was a lot of sad stories that thankfully haven't happened to me, but it did not relate to me. Part 2 was a little better. I got a few nuggets from the book.

15 reviews
September 23, 2017
If you are alive, you've been hurt and are likely looking for help. This is a wonderful book to start with or continue with. I'm sure I will reread large parts of this book again and again.
Profile Image for Erin.
125 reviews2 followers
June 19, 2020
Really enjoyed this and feel lighter and more “mended” after reading it. Highly recommend if you struggle with letting something go. Can’t wait to check out her book “The Unburdened Heart”.
Profile Image for Amaris.
43 reviews3 followers
June 7, 2024
This book was exactly what I needed in this season of my life. It was perfect for me and brought tears to my eyes.
Profile Image for Annette.
905 reviews26 followers
July 23, 2015
Summary:
The Mended Heart addresses the key topics of brokenness and healing in women.
Part one is brief and speaks to readers who've been trying to work towards healing and it's not happened. The chapter ends with the encouragement to "peel away those layers;" the layers of the broken shell, allowing God to heal tender wounds.
Part two has several chapters under the heading of "Hearts In The Midst Of Mending." Issues of sexual abuse, minimizing grief, identifying with others in pain, religious abuse, when the offending person is not remorseful, and having a soft heart for God's teaching.
Part three is on "Moving Forward." An emphasis is "partnership with God.". There is not a time limit and patience is important.

My Thoughts:
I don't like it when a book is labeled a Christian self-help book. Sometimes people will refer to a book like The Mended Heart as a Christian self-help book. This definition leaves God out and I don't like it. The Mended Heart is a tool, a tool with the emphasis on the Lord Jesus Christ and His healing of our broken heart.
My favorite section was part three. "Moving Forward" is the goal, to move beyond the painful memory and towards healing. A chapter in this section is on joy. When we are broken and hurting it's hard to believe we can have joy.
"We intentionally move toward joy as we see each day-including this day-as sacred." Page 195.
All of the chapters end with a section titled "Just You And God." There are several questions to dig deeper in the study on healing. A principle, "Prayer", and "Mended Heart Challenge" ends the chapters.
In the last chapter "Living In Him", Eller explains how our "identity changes." "As you grow closer to God (living in Him), you become more like Him."

The older I've gotten the more I realize (and it's crushing) how fallible, weak, and broken the human race is. We're broken because of sin. And the only way of healing is through Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ forgives, but He also restores and heals.
Recently I've been processing some "things" that happened in my past. Events from my teenage years that I'd worked hard to bury. I remember distinctly a thought I had at age 17, "I'm going to shut the door (on the memory) and lock it." Well, unresolved memories have a way of seeping out. This year I've prayed a series of prayers asking the Lord to work in my life in regards to holiness, having godly wisdom, seeing through His lens, and that I'd no longer stuff feelings. In the last month, that carefully locked door popped open. Whew, locked rooms smell bad.
You see I found my old high school diary. In addition, I found several photographs of what every room in my house looked like the month I graduated from high school. Each of these rooms are neat and clean (I can see the vacuum cleaner lines); but the moment, and the memory of that time is caught as a time capsule.
Over the last month, and during my healing process, all of the Bible verses, devotional material, books, Bible studies, and sermons I've read, address what I'm going through in healing the wounds from my past.
I'm thankful that Jesus has and is working in my life.
I'm thankful for His grace and mercy.
I'm thankful that He makes the ugly-beautiful.
I'm thankful for forgiveness through His shed blood.
Because I am a Christian I am forgiven from sin, I am no longer condemned. But it was time to be restored and be at peace from the memories of my past.
Profile Image for Kim Stewart.
52 reviews3 followers
June 10, 2015
When I hear the word “broken” I think of abuse. But guess what? “Brokenness has many faces.”

Grief
Discouragement
Unmet expectations
Events you didn’t see coming

In The Mended Heart, Suzie introduces us to women who arrived at brokenness from vastly different starting points.

“Rather than try to write about every life event that can bring brokenness, my hope is to connect with the underlying need and then explore how Jesus’ mission statement {Luke 4:18-21) meets that need.

“Jesus’ message needed to be spoken then, and it’s just as powerful today. It’s a message that, if you embrace it, will challenge you to seek beyond what you see and feel, to find the Luke 4:18 thread running through your faith and inside of you.”

I love Suzie’s easy-to-read writing style and her love for Jesus and His Word that shines through in her book.

“When you are in pursuit of a mended heart, the Holy Spirit will gently peel away one layer of brokenness at a time.”

“As you begin to heal, your God is with you every step of the way. You are not alone, and you don’t have to do the work of healing alone.”

And as Suzie leads you to move forward:

“Your life is distinguished by a focus on Jesus lovingly leading you from broken to whole.”

“When we couple our stories with the Jesus Factor, we are offered the beautiful gift of a mended heart.”

Upon buying Suzie’s book, I quickly read through it (as I’m always tempted to do with great books). Now I’m excited to read it again, slowly, and dig deep into her references to God’s Word. Also, Proverbs 31 Online Bible Studies will be leading a summer study of The Mended Heart beginning June 22. Join here:
http://proverbs31.org/online-bible-st...

I highly recommend this book to anyone with a broken heart, no matter how they arrived there.
3 reviews7 followers
June 10, 2015
This book was incremental in my healing process! Suzie approaches healing and achieving freedom in Christ in the most gentle, encouraging manner. She comes from a place of brokenness and holds nothing back in sharing her own struggles and past hurts. She walks WITH you through the healing process. There is a solidarity here that is felt on every page, and her words are beautiful.

I love that Suzie starts the book with a list of things we DON'T have to do, in order to heal. So refreshing not to be told what to do, or what I wasn't doing right, in order to find freedom from my brokenness.

I have a list of fave quotes from this book; among them is, "When we realize our Savior isn't afraid to talk about our sin, we don't have to remain broken anymore." This was powerful to me, as I'd been carrying the weight of my own failures and sins for so very long. Though I believed that God had forgiven me, I still felt shame and had trouble forgiving myself. Talk about a freeing TRUTH!

Whether you desire healing from the pain that someone else has caused you, pain you have caused others, hurt, sin, bitterness, unforgiveness, and even hurt that comes from the Church (it happens, trust me), this book will touch every aspect of brokenness, and help you walk into a place of healing.... REAL, deep, sincere healing within the deepest cracks of your heart. An easy read with a POWERFUL message, and powerful, life-changing results!
Profile Image for Lyndsey.
20 reviews5 followers
July 30, 2015
I wasn't really sure what to expect when I first jumped into Suzie's book. A mended heart is definitely something that I knew I needed, but wasn't sure if this book was the right "go to". It turns out that it came at the right time. Suzie balances diving into scripture with real life stories and experiences and surprisingly enough, there was even a story similar to my own (despite the taboos behind talking about stillbirth).

I found this to be quite thorough and well-organized as it took me on a journey to begin living with a mended heart - only something Jesus can do. I will say that I read this book along with a Proverbs 31 online Bible study, so that likely amplified what I took away from it. I'm okay with that.

All in all, a well-written, meaningful, practical book for healing our broken hearts through the love of Jesus.
Profile Image for Charlotte.
3 reviews
August 15, 2014
I am so thankful to have "stumbled upon" Suzie Eller & her book, The Mended Heart. I recommend her writing to anyone who needs to know that they are not alone in their life struggles, battles & brokenness and that there is healing to be found along their journey.

In a market/genre that is becoming saturated with fluff and redundancy lately, it is refreshing to find a gifted writer who genuinely cares for her readers as she writes from her heart to comfort theirs.
2 reviews
July 2, 2015
Dig deep into God's Word as you let Him lead you through broken places in your heart to healing and freedom. Suzanne Eller has given us a gift through #TheMendedHeart. It is a must read for all of us and would make a beautiful gift to someone in need of Christ's love.

Also, Proverbs31 Ministries is offering a free online Bible study course for #TheMendedHeart! You can join in the conversation with a bunch of other Jesus loving gals on social media.

Double thumbs up!
Profile Image for Nique.
148 reviews10 followers
November 29, 2015
I did this as a Skype Bible study with my cousin and this book was tremendously helpful. It helped me work through a lot of issues that I was having and helped me to forgive myself for not being able to make someone else's life perfect. I felt this definitely brought me closer to God and I'd highly recommend it for anyone who's feeling broken.
Profile Image for Susan.
104 reviews1 follower
Read
July 28, 2015
I absolutely loved this book --- the insight I have gained about actively participating in my own happiness is the best in a lifetime. God knows I am not perfect and He doesn't ask for perfection from me. Jesus will be my key for being spiritually filled up! By learning how to heal, I now can help others to heal if opportunity arises.
Profile Image for Micah Dodd.
77 reviews3 followers
Read
January 14, 2016
Amazing book!

Suzanne Eller gives hope to anyone that's living with hurts of the past. She digs into Scripture and shows how possible true healing that only Christ can provide is. There's even study questions at the end of each chapter to really help you to dig in and seek healing from God. I definitely recommend this book to anyone struggling to get over hurts
47 reviews3 followers
August 24, 2015
This book did have and impact on some areas of my life. I would have liked more in depth is those areas. Some didn't fit me. I would have liked to give it 4 1/2 stars. She does have some great ways that we need to learn to help our hearts mend. We just need to apply the principles.
Profile Image for Tonya Makrinski.
350 reviews
September 15, 2015
If you have a broken heart, this book helps greatly in dealing with those issues and moving past in a very healthy way through a relationship with Christ. Lots and lots of hurts were finally put to bed.
Profile Image for Angie.
34 reviews
September 7, 2015
If you have ever been hurt, and I think that's all of us, then this book's for you! Suzie walk you through the hows and whys of getting hurt, then shows us what we need to do to heal from those hurts. If you will let it and God, you can transform your life by studying this book.
Profile Image for Sarah.
606 reviews42 followers
July 13, 2015
I completed this book with Proverbs 31 Bible study. This was one of the best studies I have done. Everyone needs to read this book! All of us are wounded and broken in some way. This book gives great comfort for all of us poor miserable sinners.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews

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