NearnessSample

Adoniram Judson, the first American missionary to Burma, endured immense hardship over nearly 40 years of service. He lost children and two wives, suffered brutal imprisonment for 21 months during war, and battled illness and discouragement on his mission.

Life can wound us — and often, it wounds deeply. But Psalm 34:17-19 (ESV) reminds us: “the Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

This is not distant comfort; it’s active rescue. When we cry out, God hears. He doesn’t always remove the suffering immediately, but He steps into it with us. Like Hagar in Genesis 16:13 (ESV), we can say, “You are a God of seeing.” Like Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:9, we’re reminded that God’s power is made perfect in our weakness. And as Isaiah 43:2 (ESV) says, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.”

Psalm 34 doesn’t pretend the righteous are immune to hardship: “Many are the afflictions of the righteous” (Psalm 34:19, ESV). But it anchors us in the promise: “the Lord delivers him from them all.” (Psalm 34:19, ESV) Deliverance may take time, but God’s nearness is immediate.

Adoniram Judson’s faith and perseverance was anchored in this knowledge. He continued in the assurance that God was walking with him through every trial. At the end of his life, he translated the entire Bible into Burmese, planted churches, and saw the first Burmese converts to Christianity leaving a legacy of Christianity in Burma that impacts the nation today.

Don’t measure God’s love by your circumstances. Measure it by His presence. You are never more seen, more loved, or more held than when you’re broken—and still turning to Him.

Today, ponder this: Let Judson’s perseverance inspire you to remain faithful even when the fruit of your efforts feels slow or unseen. Take a moment to pray for those things in your life that feel hard or are not moving, and ask God for strength, courage and deliverance.