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Psalm 34:17-22  

The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. The righteous person may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all; he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken. Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned. The LORD will rescue his servants; no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.

Broken hearts come in many forms. And we all will at some point experience a broken heart; that’s for sure. Some are crushed by a spouse who walks out on the marriage. Heartache comes from the rejection of a dear friend or family member; by reckless words that pierce like a sword. Some hearts are broken when the job is lost; others when the retirement watch doesn’t quite justify the years of sacrifice. Sometimes kids go astray. Sometimes loneliness sits heavy on the heart. Or discouragement settles in and you’re not sure when or why it came. Sometimes you come to the harsh realization that what you desperately wanted is just not going to happen.

And there is another thing that’s for sure—the Lord will be right there with you. God is always close. If you are a follower of Jesus, He lives in you! But there is something about a broken heart that highlights His presence. There’s something about a crushed spirit that amplifies His voice. When our hearts hurt we hear God more clearly.  

It’s not like we go out looking for a broken heart or excitedly anticipate a crushed spirit. But they will come—unforeseen, uninvited, unwelcomed.  And when they do the Lord is close with comfort. The Lord is there with hope. He never lets go of His children. He saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Father, thank You for being close to the brokenhearted. In Jesus’ name. Amen.