Tuesday, August 24th, 2021

The last couple weeks of news have been some like none of us really imagined we’d ever see. We’ve all felt countless emotions over what is happening in Afghanistan and our nation’s role in it. In addition, here in Tennessee, devastation over the weekend from flash flooding brought suffering close to home. There is little any of us can do alone against forces of nature and geopolitical strife. But God does not ask for us to change the world by ourselves; He asks first for our faith so that He can. Psalm 34 says, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” This verse is a comfort to many but it also shows those of us who are not presently brokenhearted or crushed in spirit where to find God. We all seek for Him everyday, and in days like these, we know exactly where He is, and where our attention, effort, and prayer should be, too. Today, lift up those who are brokenhearted and crushed in spirit, drawing close to God by drawing close to them.

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted

and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” — Psalm 34:18