The Waiting Walk

The LORD hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. Psalm 34:17-18 NLT

A quick reading of this passage might give one the impression that if they pray and seek God, life will be smooth sailing. Trouble will be gone, and they’ll always feel complete and healthy.

But wait.

He hears us when we call to Him for help. Last I checked, people whose lives were smooth sailing didn’t call for help. The ones who call for help are IN some kind of trouble. That’s why they call for help! And yes, the promise is that the Lord will rescue them, but from the trouble – not preventing the trouble. Interesting.

The same with the next verse. If life was just peachy, why would there be a broken heart? If life were flawless, there would be no crushed spirit. But we definitely have a broken heart and a crushed spirit in this context.

Was it a boyfriend or girlfriend who broke your heart? Perhaps a husband or wife? Maybe it was a parent or a friend. Someone close to you. Someone you loved. Trusted. Wanted to spend time and life with. But something happened, and now your heart is broken.

God is near to you.

No, He didn’t prevent the heartbreak. No, He didn’t save you from the pain. But He is near. Close to you. Aching with you. Feeling your pain. Inviting you to lean your head on His shoulder, and have a good cry.

God is near to you.

What about your spirit? Is it free and healthy? Or is it crushed? Perhaps it was a parent who felt the need to kill your dreams. Or to perhaps make you feel like you would never, could never, measure up. You were not enough – and never will be. Perhaps it was a spouse that has done this instead. Before you married you were ready to take on the world, but you’ve now been convinced that you can’t even handle simple household duties or ever be successful in your job because you’ll just never measure up. Maybe you’re hearing that from a boss, or coworkers, or church members. Someone is crushing your spirit, and you feel worthless and unworthy. Your dreams and aspirations have faded to all but memories, whispers of what might been…

God will rescue you!

Those faded dreams can be reborn. That crushed spirit can be revived. That spark of love and life can be rekindled. You, and all that you were meant to be, can be rescued by the most amazing Being in the universe. God WANTS to rescue you! In spirit and in truth, He will take what you are and what you are meant to be, and He will make you new. Oh, what a glorious thought.

You are worthy of rescue by God.

So are you broken-hearted today? Has life and those in it crushed your spirit until you can barely even see yourself when you look into the mirror? Please know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that God is near to YOU. In the darkness. In the pain. In the trouble and heartache and tears.

Cry out to Him. Cry out in your trouble. He will be near to your broken heart, and rescue you from being crushed. He is there.

Even in the middle of the pain.

Especially in the middle of the pain.