Across the Pastor’s Desk by George Marin

“The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart and saves those who are crushed in spirit,” Psalms 34:18.

In our world there are so many hurting people. All around us are people who have endured great hardships of life through loss of relationships, loss of loved ones, sickness or loss of career, as well as people who have suffered with depression, anxiety or severe addictions.

We live with them, work with them, are in relationships with them and many times don’t even realize they are hurting. I once met a woman who had a miscarriage on a Friday and, because of her financial situation, had to be back to work on Monday. She had absolutely no time to mourn her loss before she had to put on her game face and continue on with life.

There are lonely people all around us who even feel alone in a crowd. There are people who function daily with broken emotions from childhood traumas or serious abuses from life, and many times they feel there is no one who cares.

Please let me assure you there is one who cares, and it is our great and loving heavenly father. He sees every tear. He hears every prayer. He knows every need.

Many times, people wonder, “If God is so powerful, how come he didn’t stop my pain?”

This is a very real question. Often, God does not rush in like the cavalry to rescue. But, according to his word, he is very near to those who have a broken heart, and he is the one who saves those who have experienced a crushed spirit.

How does God do this when he seems so far away? The truth is that at the times he seems the farthest away, he is as close as the mention of his name. God uses people to minister healing to broken hearts. He uses people to bring comfort to crushed spirits. I can’t explain exactly how he does it, but I know that he does, because he has done it for me.

I am living proof that God comforts in times of brokenness, and that he saves when our spirits have been crushed. Over my lifetime, God has used specific people to speak the right word at the right time to comfort my soul.

One day not too long ago, I was hurting very badly in my emotions. I was visiting someone at the hospital and, as I walked out, I quietly whispered a prayer to the Lord. I asked him to have someone pray for me or to bring me a word of encouragement.

I went about my day and into the night, and at 11:57 that night, I received a Facebook message from my friend, the Rev. Steve Piper of First Presbyterian Church. He let me know God had placed me on his heart and that he was praying for me and wanting to encourage me.

I wept as I read his note to me. I rejoiced, as I knew that God had heard my prayer and answered that same day. My faith was strengthened and renewed, as I knew that there are people who hear the voice of God and act upon what they hear.

Thank you, Steve, for hearing God’s voice and acting upon it. I pray that if you are broken and crushed today, God will hear your prayer and send someone to comfort, strengthen and encourage you in your brokenness!

Please don’t quit. Please don’t give up. Call out to God today. He will hear, and he will answer you. God bless you!

 

George Marin is the pastor at Grace Christian Church in Albert Lea.