It’s hard to watch television and films or listen to music without being confronted with the concept of heartbreak. Love, as beautiful as it is, can be a source of hurt when things go awry. What is one to do in those instances? In many houses of worship, Christians are taught that the answer to all life’s problems can be found in the good book. But what, exactly, does the Lord suggest women do about heartache and pain? Author Vanessa Werts explored this topic and more in her book Lies and Love: Cleansing the Heart to Make Room for Radical Love. The book is a 30-day “heart cleanse” designed for Christian women.
Werts said the idea came about after her first novel Lies, which followed the tale of a successful woman with the worst luck in dating.
“There is always a goal of creating a message for the reader to take away,” said Werts, who added that her personal testimony of overcoming what she describes as “heart issues and chaos” has been a source of inspiration for her writing.
“I grew up in a two-parent home and was the middle child. When I was young, my dad would always tease me about being illegitimate. I became insecure as a teenager and was sexually abused by someone in church. The way I saw love was distorted. When I became an adult, I felt like I had to go above and beyond. That became part of the lie. It’s a lie to believe you’re not enough,” she said.
Werts said that in spite of her negative experiences with love, she learned that staying open to the possibility of it is healing in and of itself. “In order for you to stay open to God, you have to stay open to love. Now I’m healed and I’m whole.”
In Lies and Love, Werts takes readers through a four-week process that includes daily devotions, helpful passages of scripture and a variety of self-help exercises.
“Each week has a topic — forgiveness, pursuing love, celebrating your life and living on purpose,” said Werts. “My hope for the women is that they feel refreshed and lighter in their life and have discovered something new in their heart story. You have to value yourself and know what things mean to you. Hold on to your values and beliefs. You have to think about yourself and respect yourself.”
To purchase Lies and Love, visit vanessawerts.com.
