A Devotional for the Anxious Heart: Psalm 34: 18-19 

Scripture: “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivers him out of them all” (Psalm 34:18-19). 

Thought: God is compassionate and always near, especially in our brokenness. He doesn’t sometimes deliver, he always delivers if we seek him, albeit maybe not in the way we think. Needy and dependent, but in a good way. God, our father, wants to be there for us in everything, but especially our brokenness and deep sorrow. We are righteous when we seek him above all else. 

Application: We have, in our brokenness and need, often tried to hid the depth of it from God, trying to be strong or seem in control and capable. The funny thing is, God knows exactly how needy we are, how deeply broken. Pride keeps us from expressing the fullness of our vulnerability to God and others. But, this verse, like so many others reaffirms who God is and that I can trust in him.   Prayer: Dear Lord, You see and know my broken heartedness, how crushed in spirit I am. I am at the end of myself. I don’t need to be strong anymore—you are here. Amen. 

Contributed by Liz Hunt