Brokenhearted? Feeling alone? Really alone?
As I worked in the yard this weekend, I listened to a podcast by James MacDonald on the promises of God. He used the following scripture for those times when we feel despair.
Psalm 34:18
The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
I had several things on my mind as I listened and I must say that this scripture rang true to me. It literally stopped me in my tracks. I stopped what I was doing and looked up the scripture on my iPod and then I took some time to think about the scripture.
Despair. My dictionary defines despair as a complete loss or absence of hope. Have you been there? This weekend I saw a family who lost their father. I talked with another family who has lived with the challenges of a disabled child for more than 25 years. I spoke with another person whose husband had been pushed away as a pastor of his church largely because of his physical ailments. And there are some things in my life over which I have very little control, and without God, some of those things are quite hopeless.
As my family will tell you, I have times when I am “passionate” about things. This is how I am described when I have a little trouble keeping it all together. I was a little “passionate” as I read and reread this verse.
From personal experience, I can tell you that in the lowest points in my life I have felt both closer to and further from God than at other times. It easy to remind others that if we,”Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:5,6 . It’s a little more difficult when our hearts are broken.
On Saturday, I need to be reminded that the LORD is near.
I would certainly agree with you in the sense you put to “despair”, but also view your verse in the sense of keeping a right attitude about how we stand before God in our own “righteousness”. It is hard to know “grace” when we are so puffed up in ourselves…..