The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. ~ Psalm 34:18
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. ~ Psalm 51:17
As I browse the checkout line at the grocery store, I notice the covers of the magazines. The decorated tables, beautiful homes, and smiling models. They are pictures of perfection. Yet, adjacent to these are the gossip tabloids, exploiting the misery and pain of others. The photographs are raw. Within the space of a few inches is a dichotomy that reflects how our world can turn on a dime.
Since sin entered the world, creation has suffered its consequences. Distrust, discomfort, and death were not original to Eden. Yet, because of sin, we live with brokenness. We suffer injustice at the hands of others. We experience the consequence of our own transgressions. But by God’s grace, we can experience healing. Sometimes, we set limits on how God heals. We picture Jesus healing a blind man or a sick woman. Yet, these actions were signs to point to his authority. God sent the Wounded Healer to restore the brokenhearted back to himself.
Psalm 34:18 states that the Lord is near to the brokenhearted. Having personally experienced the repercussions of this fallen world, I find solace in this verse. We are not abandoned in times of strife. Our Heavenly Father sees and responds to our pain. We see this in the story of Hagar, the Egyptian slave, in Genesis 16 and 21. Though cast aside by her mistress and left to die, the Lord continued to see and provide for her and her child. She responds by giving him the name, “The God who sees.” Psalm 147 praises God for his ability to heal the brokenhearted and bind up their wounds.
In Isaiah 61:1, God promises to bind up the brokenhearted. This was the verse Jesus proclaimed in the synagogue at the beginning of his ministry. We sometimes confuse this promise with immediate healing and when we continue to feel pangs of sorrow, our faith wanes. His purpose was to bind up a world that had been broken by sin. The concept of binding implies that he will wrap us tightly in his loving presence and hold us, making it so we can carry on.
When Jesus entered the world, he experienced the same grief and brokenness caused by sin that we experience today. He suffered and endured rejection, humiliation, hunger, temptation, sorrow, and betrayal. Yet, through his death and resurrection, he overcame the world by conquering sin and death. Through his resurrection, we have victory over the darkness. By his stripes, we are healed. We have the hope to carry on because we are more than conquerors in Christ because nothing can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:37-39). It is this truth that we must cling to in times of crisis and heartbreak.
Before his crucifixion, Jesus predicted the heartbreak his disciples will experience (John 16). Even in his prediction was hope. This hope came through the promise of the Spirit. Through the Spirit, the disciples would be able to experience the fullness of God and joy previously unknown. But it was by a pathway of sorrow that the intimacy of rejoicing would follow. Jesus promised the Spirit would help, comfort, convict, and guide believers in their ministry after he was gone. Before the resurrection and the Holy Spirit’s arrival at Pentecost, the disciples deserted Jesus, fled for their lives, and were living in fear. After the resurrection and through the Spirit, the disciples spread the gospel message and made way for the Church to make a lasting impact for thousands of years.
Perhaps healing should not be gauged by restoration of physical property or life, but rather a renewal of our intimacy with our Creator and Sustainer God. We were created to be at peace with God and with others. Sin has broken our ability to obtain that in and of ourselves. Yet, through Christ, God has graciously given us an opportunity to receive healing to our delicate hearts in a broken world. By Christ’s parting gift of His Spirit, we are comforted in the most trying times and are given the divine strength to live another day in the joy that only God can give.
A Prayer for a Broken Heart:
Lord, my heart is so heavy this morning. My sorrow is so great. In the midst of all this pain I am feeling, I am so thankful that you are God and I am not. I am thankful that you are all-powerful, that I do not have to hold it all together or be strong for everyone in my life. You are my strength. You are strong for my loved ones when I can’t be. I am thankful you are all-knowing – that you know the outcome to this misery I am facing. That I don’t have to figure out what the next week or month or year looks like because you have it all held together. And you promise my feet won’t slip. Help me, Lord! Strengthen me for today. Give me daily bread, that I can be sustained through this heartache. Thank you God that you are close when I am hurting. Thank you God for the comfort, grace, and joy that only you can give. Hold me up today. In your name, I pray, Amen.
A Short Prayer for a Broken Heart
Lord, please heal my broken heart. Fill me with the peace and joy I know can only come from You during this hard time. Walk closely beside me during my journey to healing and recovery that I know is possible through Your power alone. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. Traci Miles, Encouragement for Today Proverbs 31 Devotional
This article is part of our larger Prayers resource meant to inspire and encourage your prayer life when you face uncertain times. Visit our most popular prayers if you are wondering how to pray or what to pray. Remember, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us and God knows your heart even if you can't find the words to pray.
A Daily Morning Prayer
A Prayer for When You're Overwhelmed by Fear
A Prayer for a Broken Heart
A Prayer for Worry
A Prayer for First Thing in the Morning
A Prayer for When You Don't Know What to Do
