Prayer for the spiritually devastated
Written by Kenisha Sanders Liddy
Bible reading:
Psalm 34:8 – The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed spiritually.
Listen or read below:
The play looked like it was going to be great, and little Mary knew she had to get the role of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Simply because her name was Mary and she knew all about the virgin birth of Jesus Christ. When her Sunday school teacher told her she would be playing Mary’s cousin Elizabeth, who had very few lines, Mary couldn’t believe her ears. She smiled and clapped like everyone else, but was devastated.
Later that day, as she cried in her mother’s arms, she wondered if she could ever justify the parts of herself she didn’t want. My friends, how many times have we experienced what Mary experienced? We experience betrayal in a marriage, losing a job we love, or a friend choosing someone else over us. This is why I am so glad that Jesus exists. Because Jesus promises to save those who are spiritually crushed. I am reminded of Mary, the mother of Jesus, who knelt at the foot of the cross and watched Jesus be crucified. She knew he was God, but she must have thought of the little baby she held in her hands for the first time. Can you imagine her pain, broken spirit, and broken heart?
And as Jesus suffered on the cross, He saw her suffering and knew that she was hurting. So he told John to take care of Mary as if she were his own mother. And we can see that Jesus thought of John in the same way, as he was the youngest of the apostles and therefore very close to Jesus. He said to Mary, “Behold, your son John.” Jesus was essentially saying that now that I’m gone, you’re emotionally broken, so I’ll leave you two together and I’ll save you. If you are feeling overwhelmed spiritually, God is near you. He is like the wind. We cannot see him, but we feel his presence. And even when the wind is calm and quiet, we know it is there because we are breathing. God is close to us when things are good, but He never abandons us when things are bad.
Jesus experienced abandonment in our place so that we did not have to endure it. That’s why the Bible teaches that nothing can separate us from God’s love. Neither height nor depth, nor angels nor demons, nor even death have power over it. The Word says that if you draw near to God, He will draw near to you. Our key passage suggests that a special kind of intimacy is reserved for those who are brokenhearted and spiritually crushed because God draws near in person. God understands that we need His strength and grace to overcome the trials we face. Because when your spirit is crushed, you can’t see a way out. That is why we should trust in the One who will save us and walk with us through the valley of the shadow of death. He is the one who guides us through trials and betrayals. For weeping may be endured for a night, but joy comes in the morning. The nights may seem long and endless, but God is with us every step of the way. We know that morning is coming because a breakthrough is approaching.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for helping people who are emotionally devastated. I will lift up all those who are invisible to others, those who were chosen last, those who have experienced betrayal, those who have been hurt and cannot see the end of their hurt, and bring them to your throne. Lord, let them feel your presence and your steadfast, steadfast, perfect love. Keep a source of comfort close to their weary hearts as they experience this pain. May they put their hope and trust in You, for You will never leave them or forsake them. You have promised to be with them until the end of the world, so you are not one to lie. Thank you Lord for always keeping your promises, you are a wonderful God who never fails us and always shows up on time. Thank you, God, for giving me an outlet when I am emotionally overwhelmed. And thank you for being there for me when my heart was broken. Lord, I trust you. For you are my safety and my God. In the name of Jesus, amen.
Share your thoughts on today’s devotion in the Daily Prayer discussion in the Crosswalk Forum.
Photo credit: ©Unsplash/geetanjalkhanna
Kenisha Sanders Liddy is a wife and mother. She is an avid reader and writer of wholesome romance novels. She believes in the sufficiency of the Bible and has a master’s degree in Biblical Counseling. Raised as a pastor’s child, she fell in love with the love of Jesus at an early age and wants to encourage others to live for Jesus through her words. You can find more of her musings at keneeshaliddie.com.
Related resources: What to do when God seems far away
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Many sincere believers go through seasons when their prayers feel empty, their Bibles feel silent, and God feels mysteriously absent. Especially for leaders, these seasons can feel confusing, discouraging, and even embarrassing.
In this episode of the Unhurried Living podcast, Alan Fadling sits down with theologian and spiritual formation professor Kyle Strobel to discuss his new book, When God Seems Distant, co-written with John Coe. If this episode helps you focus your work and life on God, follow Unhurried Living on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode.
