Day 2: The Reality of Brokenness

As David penned Psalm 34, there was no question in his mind that experiencing brokenness or being crushed in spirit is a reality for those who love God. David wrote this psalm in reflection on one of the lowest times of his life ― the time he encountered Abimelech, also called Achish, king of Gath.

Out of the depths of his experience, David wrote of the Lord’s nearness and deliverance. Here are three things we can learn about the reality of brokenness for those who believe in God.

• Broken hearts and crushed spirits are a reality, not a rarity. Even the righteous will experience seasons of heartbreak and hardship. Think about David, known as a man after God’s own heart, or the early church in the Book of Acts. Righteous men and women aren’t exempt from experiencing brokenness or trouble.
• Following Christ faithfully is not a guarantee of physical safety. In fact, faith in Christ might steer a Christian straight into danger. Christians in the DRC have been faithful to witness to their Muslim neighbors, but this sometimes results in attacks from Islamists who scorn and resent the message of the gospel. Followers of Christ may be bruised by persecution and burdened by the resulting sorrow.
• The wounds from these pains may take a long time to fully heal. When our Christian brothers and sisters, like those in the DRC, are assaulted, are kidnapped, have their homes and churches burned and witness their loved ones being killed, they experience deep emotional and spiritual pain. They carry those wounds with them, sometimes for years.

The reality of brokenness is not one that a faithful believer can ignore. While you may never experience the kind of hardship like that of our persecuted Christian family around the world, you likely have had seasons of hardship that left you feeling heartbroken, grief-stricken or even doubting whether or not God really had your best interest at heart.

Can you think of a time in your life when your own spirit felt “crushed” by circumstances or afflictions? What did you cling to in order to get through those times?