Sunday, February 19, 2023

And These Are The Messes Of Our Lives

 By: Paula Short


"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time. For the Lord protects the bones of the righteous; not one of them is broken"! Psalm 34:18-20— NLT

David was a man who passionately loved God. But that didn't mean his life was free from chaos, heartbreak, or drama. If anything, David had more than his fair share of these three things.

He lived with the chaos of war as he attempted to stabilize the warring factions of Israel. He dealt with the drama from a son that tried to steal his throne and another who raped his sister. He survived the heartbreak of losing an infant child after his relationship with Bathsheba.

But through it all, David did one thing right—he kept turning back to God. He didn't hide his sins or pretend he was doing Okay. He poured his grief, anger, heartbreak, and betrayals out into the book of Psalms.

No matter how we look at it, our lives are messy. Some of us have persevered through a divorce (11 years strong on my own now). Or maybe one of your children has disengaged herself from you (6 years since my oldest daughter disengaged herself from me). Perhaps a loved one or more has passed on, or someone is facing job loss, financial troubles, terminal or chronic illness, addiction, and so many more messes.

Many times when we think of a new year, or making a fresh start, we think of Hallmark perfection. You might long for the ideal marriage, the beautifully blended family, or the joy of holding a child after years of infertility. Do we find hallmark perfection? Most times, not. 

Take a look at the verse above. Psalm 34:18-20, it's so comforting, isn't it? Sometimes we wish we could escape troubles— the pain of grief, loss, sorrow, and failure, or even the minor daily frustrations that constantly wear us down. I know I sure do. God promises to be close "to the brokenhearted" and to be the source of power, courage, and wisdom, helping us through our problems. Sometimes he chooses to deliver us from those problems. When troubles happen, don't get mad at God, sweet friend. Instead, tell him that you need his help and thank him for being by your side.

You see, even in the middle of our chaotic and messy life, God's with us. He doesn't abandon you when hardship and heartbreak come knocking on your door. Instead, He wants us to seek him, to reach out and touch his wounds; he draws close and gently bandages our wounds.

Reflection
Are you going through an everyday mess right now?
How does knowing God is close to the brokenhearted make you feel?



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