November 08, 2024

God, the Heart Healer

Psalm 34:17-18

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

—  Psalm 34:18

On the radio the other day I heard a familiar song about heartbreak. There are probably hundreds, if not thousands, of songs written throughout history about broken hearts and lost loves. Have you ever wondered why musicians and music producers keep writing about that same thing?

Maybe people do not tire of those types of songs because everyone can relate to them in some way. Nearly everyone has experienced feelings of emptiness after a breakup, or they have asked themselves “What went wrong?” after losing their love.

Thankfully God’s Word provides some guidelines to help us answer our questions and give us peace of mind when heartache and heartbreak happen. When we hurt, Scripture can provide comfort. It also gives us a way to express how we feel, especially when we don’t know what to say or how to say it. Much of that language can be found in the Psalms, and many psalms were written by people who shared their feelings candidly and honestly.

David, the writer of Psalm 34, didn’t have to search long for peace, and neither do we. God is near to those who hurt, and we can trust today that the One who gave the sun its ability to shine, who told the waters how far they could go, and who constantly watches over the universe is also near to you—and he’s saying, “I’ve got this, and I’ve got you.”

Lord, draw near to all who are hurting today, and may they know you are holding them in your hands. Amen.

About the author — Ben McKnight

Ben McKnight was born and raised in the West Michigan area. He has been married to Kayla for 14 years and has been a dad to Leo for almost five years. After graduating from Calvin Theological Seminary in 2017, he served as a pastor in Grant, Michigan, until spring 2021. He then served as a chaplain for a year at a local retirement community, and then with ReFrame Ministries’ advancement team. In spring 2024 he transitioned and began serving as the pastor of a church in Cedar Springs, Michigan.

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