It’s Thursday’s daily devotion. As we turn our thoughts to Psalm 34:18, we can take comfort in knowing the Lord is near us. God sacrificed His only Son to make us family, and Jesus prayed that we be one as He and the Father are one. God isn’t with you just in the good times. When your heart is broken, He’s there:
18 The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
In today’s daily devotion, declare that God is with you at all times, even when your heart is heaviest.
The Lord is Near
Difficult times don’t mean God isn’t there. Throughout David’s life, he faced challenges, pitfalls, and dangers, but God was with him every step of the way. You hear some of his heartbreak in the psalms he wrote, and in Old Testament books that cover his life. David dealt with rejection, unacceptance, depression, and many other issues. Life won’t excuse us from trials, but we can be sure God is with us.
Why would God let you suffer? Suffering builds strength and character. It teaches you to trust Him. You realize you’re insufficient on your own, but your God can do abundantly more than you can imagine.
In Thursday’s daily devotion, you can rejoice in the midst of trouble because God is near you.
The Brokenhearted
Brokenheartedness is a type of sadness, a human emotion. David was brokenhearted when he realized Saul was intent on killing him, and he had to flee for his life. Saul’s son, Jonathan, who was David’s dear friend, warned David to leave quickly. Before he left, he and Jonathan wept over Saul’s mercilessness toward David.
Decades later, David would leave Jerusalem, fleeing from his own son, Absalom, who was determined to kill him and take his throne. As David and his men left, the whole city wept in sadness. David’s head was covered as he cried, and he walked barefoot. The men with him did likewise. These were signs of mourning. You may have felt broken. But always remember you have hope in God. See trials as temporary because they always are. In today’s daily devotion, realize that David went on to do great things, and so will you.
God Saves
What seems like an impossible situation is never impossible with God. In all David’s trials, he prayed and sought God’s intervention. When you pray, you must turn it over to God. Believe that He will rescue you. Leave the details to Him. David was devastated by the outcome—Absalom’s death. Although God didn’t order it, David had to accept the consequences of Absalom’s actions. In your daily devotion, thank God for the strength to move forward.
Contrite in Spirit
David experienced a contrite heart. On the occasion of Nathan calling him out for adultery and murder, David cried out to God in repentance. In Psalm 51:17, David says, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart.” Although God spared David’s life, Nathan informed David that the sword would never leave his house, and evil would arise out of it.
If you commit wrongdoing, as David did, you must repent humbly with a contrite spirit. You must express deep regret or sorrow. And more than feeling sorry, you must be willing to change. In your daily devotion, resolve to repent of any wrong and remain in God’s fellowship.
Final Word
Let today’s daily devotion be your assurance that God is near you. As your Heavenly Father, He is with you in difficult times. In Psalm 147:3, He heals the brokenhearted. If you’re broken or contrite in spirit, God will lift you. David found strength and deliverance in God, and so can you.
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