The Lord is Near

Psalm 34:18

The LORD is near to the broken hearted

            And saves the crushed in spirit.

Being a senior pastor is difficult. I know that it probably is no more difficult than many other jobs or callings, but it is still a difficult job. I have seen and heard more heart break, pain, struggle and sadness over the last few months than in my entire life. Marriages that are falling apart, depression and seasonal challenges, suicides and their aftermath, cancer diagnoses that were fairly unexpected, funerals, and the list goes on. This is not a list assembled so that you will have sympathy for me or feel sorry for me. It’s not about me. It’s about pain, the broken hearted, the crushed in spirit.

Can there be hope in the midst of pain? Can there be peace with heart break? Can there be joy under the tears? Can there be love with a broken heart? In the middle of these trees, the answer to these questions cannot possibly be yes. But as they say, you often can’t see the forest for the trees. Sometimes the trees are so tall and wide that you can’t see around them. But the real answer to the questions is: yes. Yes there can be hope, peace, joy and love in the middle of the mess.

The promise of God in Psalm 34 is astounding. God is near. He is near is another way of saying He is here. God is with us all in the mess. For those whose heart has been broken, God is here. For those whose spirit has been crushed, God is here. He sent His Son, Jesus, into the world of pain, struggle, broken hearts and crushed spirits. He lived, walked, hungered, hurt and died. He was no stranger to pain.

He is no stranger to your pain either. Though you may not feel it or sense it, God is near. You may not see it or hear it, but He is here with you in the middle of the heart break. His promise is His promise. I need to hear it as much as you and as much as those who can’t see the forest. The Lord is near to the broken hearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

Lord, thank you for being there. In Jesus’ name, amen.