A Prayer for Those Crushed in Spirit
By Keneesha Saunders Liddie
Bible Reading:
Psalms 34:8 - The Lord is near to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Listen or Read Below:
The play was going to be amazing, and little Mary knew she had to get the part of playing Mary, the mother of Jesus. Simply because her name was Mary and she knew the whole story about the virgin birth of Jesus Christ. Mary couldn’t believe her ears when her Sunday School teacher said she would play Elizabeth, Mary’s cousin, who had very few lines. She smiled like everyone else and clapped, but she was crushed.
She cried in her mother’s arms later that day, wondering if she could do justice to a part she didn’t want. My friend, how many times have we experienced what Mary went through? When betrayal hits our marriage, when we lose a job we love, when a friend chooses someone else over us, and so many more experiences. This is why I’m so glad I have Jesus, because he promises to rescue those who are crushed in spirit. I think of Mary, the mother of Jesus, as she knelt at the foot of the cross and watched Jesus be crucified. She knew he was God, but I’m sure she pictured the little baby she first held in her hand. Can you imagine the agony, the crushed spirit, and her broken heart?
And even while Jesus was suffering on the cross, he saw her anguish and knew she was hurting. So he told John to take care of Mary as though she were his mother. And even for John, who was very close to Jesus because he was the youngest among the apostles, we see Jesus thinking of him as well. He said to Mary, behold, John, your son. Jesus was essentially saying now that I’m gone, because you are crushed in spirit, I will save you by leaving you both together. If you are crushed in spirit, God is near to 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 still know it's there because we are breathing. God is near to us when things are good, but when things are bad, He never abandons his own.
Jesus experienced abandonment in our place so that we don’t have to endure it. That is why scripture tells us that nothing can separate us from the love of God. Not height or depth, angels or demons, and not even death has that power. The Word says if you draw near to God, he will draw near to you. Our key verse suggests that a special type of closeness is reserved for those who are brokenhearted and crushed in spirit because God draws near on his own. He realizes we need his strength and grace to make it through the trials we are facing because when you are crushed in spirit, you can’t see the way out. That’s why we should trust in the one who can save us and walk with us through the valley of the shadow of death. The one who walks us through trials or through betrayal, because weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. The night can seem long and unending, but God is with us every step of the way. We know that morning will come because a breakthrough is on the way.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for saving those who are crushed in spirit. I lift up and bring to your throne everyone who has been invisible to others, those chosen last, those who’ve experienced betrayal, the ones who are hurting and can’t envision an end to the hurt. Let them feel your presence, Lord, and your unwavering, unfailing, and perfect love. As they go through this pain, keep the source of comfort close to their weary heart. May they place their hope and trust in you because you will never leave or forsake them. You promised to be with them to the end of the age, and you are not like man that you should lie. Thank you for always keeping your promises, Oh Lord, you are an amazing God who never fails us and always comes through on time. Thank you, God, for offering a way out when I am crushed in spirit. And thank you for drawing near when my heart is broken. I will place my trust in you, Lord, for you are my safety and my God. In Jesus name, amen.
Share your reflections on today’s devotional in the Your Daily Prayer discussion on the Crosswalk Forum.
Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/geetanjalkhanna
Keneesha Saunders-Liddie is a wife and mom. She is an avid reader of wholesome romance novels and a writer. She has a Master's in Biblical Counseling as she believes in the sufficiency of Scripture. As a pastor’s kid, she fell in love with the way Jesus loved her at an early age and wants to encourage others to live for Him through her words. You can find more musings from her at keneeshaliddie.com
Related Resource: What to Do When God Seems Distant
What do we do when God no longer feels as close as He used to feel?
Many sincere believers experience seasons when prayer feels empty, Scripture feels quiet, and God seems strangely absent. For leaders especially, those seasons can feel confusing, discouraging, and even shameful.
In this episode of the Unhurried Living Podcast, Alan Fadling sits down with theologian and spiritual formation professor Kyle Strobel to discuss the new book When God Seems Distant, coauthored with John Coe. If this episode helps you recenter your work and life on God, be sure to follow Unhurried Living on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
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