Encouragement for Your Week: February 22-28

This Week’s Verse

“The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit.” — Psalm 34:18

Devotion

There is a specific kind of exhaustion that comes from trying to hold everything together on your own. We’ve all been there—running on the fumes of our own ego, trying to manage our image, and pretending we have the answers. But eventually, the weight of our mistakes or the sheer emptiness of our efforts causes something to snap.

When you reach that point where you finally stop making excuses, that’s where you find God.

It sounds counterintuitive, doesn't it? We usually think God wants the "best" version of us—the one with the clean record and the polished life. But the Bible tells a different story. The Apostle John reminds us that "if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us" (1 John 1:9).

The word confess literally means "to say the same thing as." It’s about being honest. When we stop sugarcoating our mess and admit we’ve hit a wall, we move out of the "power of darkness" and into a kingdom defined by redemption and love.

In Psalm 34, the "brokenhearted" aren't just people who are sad; they are people who have come to the end of themselves. They’ve realized that their own resources are bankrupt. If you feel like you’ve failed or that you’re at a dead end, take heart: The omnipresent God who is near to everyone becomes uniquely close to you when you are hurting.

He doesn't look at a repentant heart and see a project to be discarded; He sees a vessel ready to be filled. As Psalm 51:17 promises, He will never reject a heart that is truly broken and ready to change.

God’s involvement in our lives isn't passive. He doesn't just sit nearby and offer "thoughts and prayers." He saves. He Heals – He He binds up the wounds of your past. He Restores – He brings back the vitality of your spirit. He Empowers – He gives you the literal strength to stand up and walk forward.

There is a profound sense of freedom—a "blessedness"—that comes when you no longer have to hide. When your sins are covered and there’s no more deceit in your spirit, you can finally breathe again.

Reflection

Take a moment to check the "pulse" of your heart today. Are you tired of trying to be your own savior? If you feel broken or worn down by your own choices, don't run away from God—run to Him. Your brokenness isn't a barrier to His presence; it’s actually the invitation for Him to step in and do what only He can do.