Key Verse:
“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
And saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
— Psalm 34:18 (NASB)
Supporting Verses:
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.”
— Isaiah 43:2 (ESV)
“So that you will not grieve as indeed the rest of mankind do, who have no hope.”
— 1 Thessalonians 4:13 (NASB)
Lesson:
On January 19th, we unexpectedly lost our baby girl. She was just a few days shy of two years old. Nothing can prepare you for the loss of a child. Burying one of your children feels unnatural, and it shakes your soul. However, God has been with us. He has upheld us, comforted us, and given us the strength to worship through pain and tears. I wanted to speak about how near God is to His people in grief because His nearness during this season has been one of the most remarkable things I have ever experienced, and it has strengthened my faith.
There are some pains in life that change you forever. Some losses divide life into two parts: before and after. In moments like these, it can feel as though the world keeps moving while your own heart stands still. Grief has a way of exhausting the soul. It reaches deeper than words can fully explain.
And yet, it is often in those darkest valleys that the presence of God becomes most real.
Psalm 34:18 says, “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” God is not distant from the grieving. He does not turn away from the crushed and wounded. Scripture says He draws near to them, and I can attest to this fully.
Sometimes, when we suffer deeply, we may wonder where God is. We may ask why. Why did this have to happen? I know I have asked that. We may not always feel strong, and we may not always understand His purposes. But the nearness of God is not dependent upon our emotions. His presence remains steady even when our hearts feel shattered.
Isaiah 43:2 reminds us of this promise: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.” God never promised His children a life free from suffering. He never said we would avoid deep waters. But He did promise that we would not walk through them alone. The rivers may rise and trials may come, yet the believer is sustained by the faithful presence of God. The waters do not overwhelm us.
Sometimes His presence is felt through a quiet peace in the middle of chaos, pain, and sorrow. Sometimes through the strength to endure another day. Sometimes through the comfort of Scripture, the prayers of others, or the simple reminder that Christ Himself was “a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53:3). Jesus understands suffering personally. He wept. He mourned. He carried sorrow.
As Christians, we grieve honestly. Faith does not remove tears from our eyes or erase pain from our hearts. First Thessalonians 4:13 does not say believers do not grieve—it says we do not grieve “as the rest do, who have no hope.” Our sorrow is real, but so is our hope. Because of Christ, death does not have the final word. Because Jesus rose from the grave, those who belong to Him have the promise of eternal life.
In seasons of grief, it is tempting to withdraw completely into despair. The enemy wants suffering to convince us that God has abandoned us. The enemy wants grief to wreck our faith and turn us against God. But the truth is the opposite. As we witness the faithfulness of God and experience His nearness, comfort, and support, our faith is strengthened.
Sometimes the most spiritual thing a hurting believer can do is simply continue trusting God one day at a time. Sometimes faith looks like getting out of bed, opening the Bible through tears, whispering prayers when words are hard to find, and continuing to cling to Christ even when your heart feels weak.
God is not ashamed of your grief. He is near to you in it.
If your heart is broken today, know this: the Lord sees you. He has not left you. He walks with His people through the valley, and He will sustain them there. One day, He will wipe away every tear from their eyes forever (Revelation 21:4). Until then, His grace is sufficient for each moment, and His presence remains near to the brokenhearted.
Father, thank You for being near to the brokenhearted. In seasons of sorrow and grief, help me remember that I am not abandoned. When my heart feels crushed and my strength feels small, remind me that Your presence is steady and faithful. Help me to trust You even in deep waters. Thank You for the hope we have through Jesus Christ and the promise that death will not have the final victory. Sustain me day by day with Your grace, Your peace, and Your comfort. Draw close to all who are hurting today, and remind them that You see every tear. In Jesus’ name, Amen.