Broken Heart

by Heather Tietz

The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit.

Psalm 34:18

Broken-heartedness doesn’t bypass the righteous.

My husband suffered from the symptoms of heartbreak. We didn’t realize at first what was happening, but God knew. He knew when He was creating him that cardiovascular disease would be written in his genes. No one else could guess that this healthy-looking, slender guy would suffer from literal heartbreak so young, no one but God.

But, helping the suffering is God’s forte. Healthy people don’t need a doctor, Jesus reminded us. He came to earth to heal the sick, the sick of mind, sick of body and the sick of heart.

God is here being to help us in our suffering. Whether we have faithful friends like young David, ready to defend our every moment, or heartless friends like Job, with no empathy for our suffering, we always have an empathetic Father.

God isn’t so distant. He has walked in earthly shoes. He knows the pain of heartbreak, of death stealing family and friends, of hunger, of homelessness, of insults and wrong accusations, of thorns and nails.

We can reach out to Him. We can pray, and pray again. We can keep His scripture in our pocket, write it on our bathroom mirror, post it on our dash, dial it up on our radio. We can sit quietly, and soak up His nearness. God helped us. There is help for whatever heartbreak you have too.

Prayer: Dear LORD, be near to me for I have a broken heart, and saves me for I have a crushed spirit. In Jesus’ precious name, I pray, amen.