All of us at times have experienced the pain and anguish of a broken heart. Where do we turn in times of overwhelming sadness? It’s a comfort to realize that God knows and understands what you’re going through. Psalm 34 chronicles a difficult time in the life of David. The superscription to this Psalm indicates that he was feigning madness before a foreign leader to extricate himself from a difficult and compromising situation. When our hearts are broken, we may feel that God is distant from us, but David discovered that these are the times when God is closest to us:

The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. (Psalm 34:18)

The word brokenhearted conveys the idea to break into pieces or to shatter. What comes to mind when you think of brokenness?  We often view brokenness as a pejorative term. The reality is brokenness is our true condition before a holy God. If you doubt your brokenness, just take note of how frequently you fall short of God’s standard. Brokenness is not something we need to deny or to seek after, it’s part of who we are. David learned that a broken and contrite heart is well pleasing to God:

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise. (Psalm 51:17)

It’s a tremendous comfort to know of God’s concern for us when we may be at our lowest. God not only knows your situation, but He can heal your broken heart:

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. (Psalm 147:3)

As we read this verse, it’s fascinating to note the context of the next verse. God is not only intimately involved with us personally, but He also knows the entire universe:

He counts the number of the stars; He gives names to all of them. (Psalm 147:4)

God is both immanent and transcendent. The prophet Isaiah described the ministry of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, as binding up the brokenhearted:

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners; (Isaiah 61:1)

It’s important to discern the reason for your broken heart – is it from God or from the enemy? Are you lamenting your broken heart? You must remember that God is with you and He is for you. Until you realize that you are broken beyond your ability to bring about healing, you will not cry out to God for salvation. As long as you think that your own goodness will get your life together, you will not see yourself as an individual needing God to heal your heart. Jesus came to bind up the brokenhearted and He can heal your broken heart when you give Him all the pieces.

Associate Pastor – Discipleship.  The Church at LifePark

Professor of Discipleship, Columbia International University

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