Brokenhearted? The Lord Is Close - Daily Hope with Rick Warren - April 28, 2021
Brokenhearted? The Lord Is Close
By Rick Warren
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18 (NIV)
We’ve all had our hearts broken in some way, maybe by disappointment, fear, shame, rejection, or ridicule. I say to you, as your friend, I’m sorry. I really am. I care about the hurt you have gone through, and God cares about it too. He hurts with you.
What was God doing when you were weeping? He was weeping too. In fact, it is in your pain that God is closest to you, whether or not you realize it.
The Bible says in Psalm 34:18, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (NIV). How does he do that? He saves you by giving you a heart transplant. It’s his specialty, in fact.
It’s as if God says, “For the heart that’s guilty, I’ll give you a heart that’s forgiven. For the heart that’s resentful, I’ll give you a heart that’s full of peace. For the heart that’s anxious, I’ll give you a heart that’s confident. For the heart that’s lonely, I’ll give you a heart full of love. The heart that has been bitter and angry? I’ll give you a heart that is forgiving, loving, and generous instead. Let me do a heart transplant in you. I will set you free.”
Why do you need freedom? Because, without Christ, you’re enslaved. You’re a slave to the expectations of other people. You’re a slave to past memories. You’re a slave to future fears. You’re a slave to current pressure. You’re a slave to the opinions of society, and on and on and on.
But all you have to do is open your heart to Jesus Christ and give him give him all of it. Like David in Psalm 119:32, you can say to God, “I run in the path of your commands, for you have broadened my understanding” (NIV).
Your heart may have been broken, but it doesn’t have to stay that way. Decide today to stop limiting God! He wants to do so much with your life—more than you can even imagine. Open your heart to God, and let him transplant your heart for his own.
PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick
For more Daily Hope with Rick Warren, please visit pastorrick.com!
Get Equipped to Face Life’s Challenges with Faith!
Life throws a lot at us these days. And it’s clearer than ever that we need to equip ourselves with biblical wisdom—because only God’s Word gives us the power we need to handle whatever comes our way.
That’s why Pastor Rick created the Unshakable Bible study.
The Unshakable Bible study is our thanks for your support to help take Daily Hope to more people around the world.
So request your copy below when you give—and get equipped to face any challenge with faith!
*The USA IRS code permits you to deduct the amount of your financial gift to Daily Hope that exceeds the fair market value of materials you received from Daily Hope.
This devotional © 2018 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
You can listen to Rick Warren on OnePlace.com.
