For the Brokenhearted

I greeted my son with a joyful happy birthday when he arose from a peaceful slumber. The previous day, he smiled big at his birthday party complete with a waterslide in our backyard. And the celebrating continued in the morning with him opening his presents from Daddy and Mommy.

For us, it was a day of celebration—of celebrating life.

And then I began to hear the news about Orlando, realizing that for others, it was a day of deep pain—a day when parents lost children, friends lost friends, brothers and sisters lost brothers and sisters…

Loss.

Ache.

Confusion.

Rivers of tears.

And so I sit here today, knowing that while the news and articles might settle down or change to something else, lives have been deeply scarred. Hearts have been deeply broken.

Souls are thirsty for hope.

And there is a Hope greater than the darkest evil. There is a Healer and by His wounds we are healed, because He defeated death with His perfect love.

It’s the kind of love I experienced when Jesus met me in my own brokenness many years ago, and for the first time, I understood that I was deeply loved by the One who bled for me.

Jesus is the One who fully understands suffering, rejection, persecution, abandonment, loneliness…

He understands and He cares deeply, especially when we are hurting.

“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
    and saves the crushed in spirit.”

~Psalm 34:18

He is near, His love is healing balm, and He hears when we call.

~ ~ ~

Dear Lord,

I pray for those who are hurting in Orlando and around the world. Thank you that you are near to the brokenhearted. Thank you that You wrap those crushed in spirit in Your mighty arms of love. Thank you that Love conquers evil, that kindness will always do more damage to the kingdom of darkness than any act of hate, and that by your Spirit at work within us we can be Your Hands and Feet to a world that needs hope. Thank you that in You we are no longer slaves to fear. Break our hearts for what breaks Yours, and teach us to be a people who are known by Your Love alive in us.

In Your Mighty Name we pray,

Amen