The Brokenhearted

The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

Psalm 34:18

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

Psalm 147:3

I had an idea what I would write this week, and then Sunday happened. Lately, I post my daily devotions on Facebook and Instagram and that’s about it, but after church I was waiting for my husband to finish something. I had finished my book, so I started scrolling through Facebook. There it was – a post about an anonymous person and a horrific situation. It kept the person’s name anonymous, but I knew. I knew who it was. I texted the person, my friend, and it was confirmed. My heart was broken. I sobbed and sobbed, crying out to God.

In the last year and a half, this is the third person I know and love that has been shattered by the sin and ugliness of abuse. Two of the situations are about as heinous as abuse can be. My heart is broken for those devasted by abuse. People I love are brokenhearted. If it feels this overwhelming for me, I can only imagine what it is like for those in the abusive situations.

In my Biblical counseling, I have spent time focusing on learning how to care for and counsel in specific areas like depression or anger. About a year and a half ago because of someone I knew, I decided to learn more about loving and counseling those in or from abusive situations. I’ve only begun to learn. Each step has brought waves of sorrow. Part of me wonders how some Biblical counselors can counsel only victims of abuse or the abusers. How are they not overwhelmed with the weight of it? The reason I have pursued Biblical counseling is because no matter what the situation including the worst of abuse, with God and His Word there is HOPE. There is healing. There is comfort. I would be overwhelmed with just the three situations I know personally, BUT GOD.

How powerful those two words are. They change everything. Ephesians 3:20 assures us that God is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power [the Holy Spirit] at work within us. But God. I think about these abusive situations and from a human viewpoint, it seems impossible for there to be healing. I’m thankful that God is not constrained to our human limitations. I don’t know in what way or how long it will take for God to work, but I know that He can and does.

I’m thankful for His words and promises in Psalm 34:18 and 147:3. “He is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit” and “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Last week I wrote about the God who sees. This is true in abuse too. He sees the abused, the brokenhearted. He hears their cries. He is near. And near doesn’t mean in the general vicinity. Near is His Spirit indwelling believers. He saves. He heals. All these things are evidence of God’s love for the brokenhearted.

Last week I studied Psalms 9 and 10, both which deal with the abused, afflicted, oppressed and brokenhearted. In speaking to them, Psalm 9 describes God as a stronghold for them. God will not forsake them. He will be gracious to them. It assures them that He is judge and the wicked will not go unpunished. Psalm 10 is similar. Although it can seem that God is hidden from the brokenhearted, He is with them. He knows what the wicked have done. He sees the abused and brokenhearted. He is their helper. He hears. He will strengthen their hearts and incline His ear to their cries. He will enact justice on the wicked.

First, if you are a victim of abuse, I am praying for you. I hope this is encouraging to you. I pray you will know there is hope and healing with God no matter what your situation, that you will know God as your stronghold, that you will know His nearness, care and love. I’m praying for other Christians to walk through this with you.

Maybe you are wondering what this has to do with you. You have never been abused. You aren’t aware of anyone impacted by abuse, but abuse is far more prevalent even in the church than most of us think. Abuse can be verbal, physical or sexual and take many forms within those. Abusers know how to deceive. In the situation I found out about on Sunday, the abuser grew up in church, has been attending and serving in church. On the outside there wasn’t anything suspicious. Whether you know someone or not, you can pray for those who have or are enduring abusive situations. Be ready to love and support them. You can see if your church leaders have a plan for helping victims of abuse. I have other resources I can share with you, but below is a link to IBCD’s (Institute for Biblical Counseling and Discipleship) website with a variety of resources to help you have a basic understanding of what you and your church can do to help.

https://ibcd.org/?s=abuse

I know there are many ways that people are afflicted and oppressed. Last week I was told about an 8-year old girl who laid in the street in front of her school and tried to commit suicide. There are racial injustices. There are people who are persecuted for their faith. The unborn need someone to defend them. These are just a few examples. God has a heart for all those that are abused, afflicted, oppressed and brokenhearted, and we should too.

As you pray, listen and love the brokenhearted, remember “But God.” Revelation 21:4-5a says, “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away…Behold, I am making all things new.” God is working here and now. We can take comfort in that, but even more so we can be comforted knowing that heaven is coming. There will be no more brokenhearted. No more pain or tears. All will be made new.

As I was praying for my brokenhearted friends yesterday, the hymn “Dear Refuge of My Weary Soul” came to mind (I have the Indelible Grace version). It was what I needed to hear. God used it to comfort one of my friends as well. I hope it will encourage and comfort you no matter what your situation.

Dear refuge of my weary soul, On Thee, when sorrows rise On Thee, when waves of trouble roll, My fainting hope relies To Thee I tell each rising grief, For Thou alone canst heal Thy Word can bring a sweet relief, For every pain I feel

But oh! When gloomy doubts prevail, I fear to call Thee mine The springs of comfort seem to fail, And all my hopes decline Yet gracious God, where shall I flee? Thou art my only trust And still my soul would cleave to Thee Though prostrate in the dust

Hast Thou not bid me seek Thy face, And shall I seek in vain? And can the ear of sovereign grace, Be deaf when I complain? No still the ear of sovereign grace, Attends the mourner's prayer Oh may I ever find access, To breathe my sorrows there

Thy mercy seat is open still, Here let my soul retreat With humble hope attend Thy will, And wait beneath Thy feet, Thy mercy seat is open still, Here let my soul retreat With humble hope attend Thy will, And wait beneath Thy feet

“Dear Refuge of My Weary Soul” lyrics © Kevin Twit Music. Original words by Anne Steel