DAY EIGHTEEN
God’s Promise:
I will be with you in every pain and heartache.
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. - Psalm 34:18 (ESV)
When difficult times come, we rest in the knowledge that we are the focal point of God’s tender regard and concern. He sees our struggles and our difficulties. This includes the ones that have pressed into our hearts - the things that have left us broken, frightened, and feeling defeated. In those moments when the blanket of sadness and despair is thick, His promise is that He is here – but not just here...near.
What a tremendous guarantee. Consider the difference between a father simply hearing the cries of their child and calling out that they will be alright, and a father who enters the room, wraps his arms around the child and holds them tight. Our heavenly Father is not aloof in His comfort. He is not distant when we despair.
This is never more fully pictured than Him sending Jesus to earth, taking on the broken heartedness of humanity, that He might in all things be as we are. God didn’t just see us being crushed and remain distant. He left his throne and came for us - was crushed on our behalf.
When we are in the dark shadows of life, our trust is that stirring reality that when our hearts are broken, and our spirits failing, He will not stand back but step into the fray to be our Comfort.
Action Step:
I will learn to take comfort in God’s nearness, trusting He will save me when I feel crushed.
When difficult times come, we rest in the knowledge that we are the focal point of God’s tender regard and concern. He sees our struggles and our difficulties. This includes the ones that have pressed into our hearts - the things that have left us broken, frightened, and feeling defeated. In those moments when the blanket of sadness and despair is thick, His promise is that He is here – but not just here...near.
What a tremendous guarantee. Consider the difference between a father simply hearing the cries of their child and calling out that they will be alright, and a father who enters the room, wraps his arms around the child and holds them tight. Our heavenly Father is not aloof in His comfort. He is not distant when we despair.
This is never more fully pictured than Him sending Jesus to earth, taking on the broken heartedness of humanity, that He might in all things be as we are. God didn’t just see us being crushed and remain distant. He left his throne and came for us - was crushed on our behalf.
When we are in the dark shadows of life, our trust is that stirring reality that when our hearts are broken, and our spirits failing, He will not stand back but step into the fray to be our Comfort.
Action Step:
I will learn to take comfort in God’s nearness, trusting He will save me when I feel crushed.