BROKENNESS

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Psalm 34:18

Brokenness has no final say in your life. God has the final say!

Reflection:

Brokenness can mean two different things. The first definition describes a situation where something has suffered severe damage and is no longer able to function properly. The second definition refers to severe emotional distress that impairs a person's capacity to live a regular, healthy life.

Psalm 34:18 invites us to consider a second form of brokenness, a deep emotional pain that can obscure the path ahead for individuals. This state presents significant challenges, cultivating emotions of despair and powerlessness, frequently resulting in discouragement and a broken spirit.

Getting to this point often means facing a variety of challenges, including sins and unfavourable situations. Think about the consequences of choices that can put someone in this situation. I worked with patients who used substances; one particularly noteworthy instance was a woman going through methamphetamine detoxification. She was in such distress from withdrawal that she became warm and had to remove her clothes. She requested me to pray with her during one of our conversations, and I did. Afterwards, she said, "Tell Jesus I'm not coming back." This example shows how people can feel stuck and unable to alter their situation when they are in a condition of brokenness.

Another example is a young man who had given up all hope, and this situation concerned me. How he had come to such a state of despair was beyond me. One day, I sat with him and tried to talk about hope, but his despair was so ingrained that he brushed it off as unrealistic. During these times, I have found that without divine intervention, our attempts to assist people frequently fail. For some, like this young man, my only option was to keep praying and rely on the Holy Spirit to lead and create a life-changing event similar to the healing at the pool of Bethsaida that is recounted in John 5:1-15.

I firmly believe in God's sovereign will in every circumstance, as He works uniquely in our lives according to His plan. To those reading this, I encourage you not to lose hope. Psalm 34:18 reminds us that "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit." God sees and understands everything we go through; He is close to the broken and delivers the crushed. He is our strength when we are weak, our hope in despair, and He heals all wounds that medication alone cannot mend.

I encourage you not to lose hope.

As children of God, our prayer is to approach Him with our broken hearts and crushed spirits, knowing that these are real mental and emotional states for which many struggle to find solutions.

Prayer:

I pray that everyone struggling with a broken heart will find healing in the Lord Jesus Christ. May He touch you now and make you whole. I uproot every seed planted by the enemy through sin, ignorance, deception, or choices. Receive your deliverance in the powerful name of Jesus Christ. I address every crushed spirit reading this message. Receive life right now in the powerful name of Jesus Christ. According to John 10:10, Jesus tells us that the thief "comes only to steal, kill, and destroy." I came so that they may have life in all its fullness." So, receive a full life right now in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Affirmation

I am living a life of abundance.