A Troubled Heart.

Read Psalm 34

"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted;

    he rescues those whose spirits are crushed."

I find the above to be poignant. In recent months expecially, It's been difficult to sleep at night due to a troubled heart. Those who know my situation are familiar with what troubles me and others can likely identify with the overwhelming sadness at watching a loved one destroy themselves.

In the passage referenced above, the psalmist, David, was on the run from someone who had at one time taken him in as family, his father-in-law; Saul. He had taken refuge in a foreign land, pretended insanity to escape harm from that land's ruler, and lived each day not knowing what the next would bring.

Yet, here he writes: "I will praise the Lord at all times.

    I will constantly speak his praises.

2 I will boast only in the Lord;

    let all who are helpless take heart.

3 Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness;

    let us exalt his name together."

I wish I were that strong. I know that God promises He is with us through all the difficult paths of life. I know that He has a plan in all the troubles, so I hold these promises up and remind myself of them constantly.

I struggle with anger, hurt, frustration, and a host of other emotions. Yet, here, the Psalmist is in danger of his very life, and he spends each day praising God for His faithfulness. Though he could have thrown up his hands and given up, thinking this was his darkest hour, David instead continues to trust God to fulfill His promises.

So, I've been meditating on this passage, ruminating on it, keeping it in my thoughts. As the psalm continues:

"The righteous person faces many troubles,

    but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.

20 For the Lord protects the bones of the righteous;

    not one of them is broken!"