"The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit." Psalms 34:18 NRSV
Today’s verse recalls a dark time from David’s past. Having fled from Saul, who was intent on killing him, he runs into the arms of his enemies, the Philistines, for refuge. While living with them, he pretends to be insane, so he is not killed. How unhappy he was, torn away from everything he knew and loved, and living under the fear of what seemed certain death from all sides.
While our situation may not be like David's, we can all appreciate his brokenheartedness – we have all been there from time to time. Romances that have gone wrong, the betrayal of a friend, or a bitter disappointment in something, or someone, we thought we could trust. We know too well the emotions that accompany our brokenness, the sadness, the gaping emptiness, the crushed spirit.
The hope in the message here is that while we experience broken hearts, God dwells within us through the Holy Spirit. We do not need to endure everything alone; we have the assurance he is our ever-present help in times of trouble. The situation may not change -- the hurt happened, and it may take a while for us to recover -- but God provides the strength, courage, and comfort needed while our hearts are mended.
God, thank you for staying near to us. When we have our hearts broken, you are with us to help us heal. You provide love and compassion like none other. We pray for all who are distressed right now, who have had their spirits crushed. We pray that they recognize your nearness and turn to you, our Father, for help, through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Shalom,
Pastor Tim
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