Daily Reflections From God's Word

Tag: Psalm 34:18

  • Nearer Than You’ve Ever Dreamed

    Fifteen years ago, I received a phone call from a friend in what I can only describe as a full-blown spiritual crisis. Through tears and strained silence, she confessed things she thought disqualified her from God’s presence: sexual sin, rebellion, alcohol abuse, and a string of regrets. Her voice cracked as she asked, “Does God even see me anymore? Can He still hear me?”

    Truth be told, I didn’t have the right words in that moment. So I did what I always do when I feel helpless—I prayed, then turned to Scripture. The story of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32 brought comfort. That image of a father running to his broken, returning son never fails to bring me to tears.

    Later, I picked up Max Lucado’s Come Thirsty, and this fictional yet spiritually potent scene caught my eye. Jesse, a Christ-figure, finds Meagan in a cafe. She’s exhausted, emotionally wrecked, and burdened by shame. She spills out her story—a series of poor choices that left her feeling used and discarded. Then she asks: “Where’s God in all this?”

    Jesse leans in and replies, “Nearer than you’ve ever dreamed.”

    This is the heart of the gospel.

    Psalm 34:18 (NKJV) declares,

    “The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit.”

    And Isaiah 55:6-7 (NKJV) urges,

    “Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way… and He will have mercy… for He will abundantly pardon.”

    We serve a God who draws near to the broken.

    Not just the polished or the cleaned-up.

    Not just the Sunday best version.

    But the tear-streaked, regret-heavy, “I’m barely holding it together” version.

    Maybe this is you today. Maybe you’re wondering, like my friend once did, if God still sees you. If He’s still listening. Let me remind you: He is. He always has been.

    He is nearer than you’ve ever dreamed.

    When have you felt far from God? What reminded you of His nearness?

    Share your story below. Someone else might need your honesty today.

  • Broken But Not Bitter: Returning to God When Life Hurts

    Broken But Not Bitter: Returning to God When Life Hurts

    Brokenness isn’t a matter of if—it’s a matter of when. Every one of us lives long enough to experience it: a friend walks away, a promise goes unfulfilled, a prayer goes unanswered. Life hits hard sometimes, and when it does, we don’t just end up with broken circumstances—we end up with broken expectations, broken trust, even broken hearts.

    Henri Nouwen put it like this:

    “Our life is full of brokenness—broken relationships, broken promises, broken expectations. How can we live with that brokenness without becoming bitter and resentful except by returning again and again to God’s faithful presence in our lives?”

    Bitterness is the natural outcome of unhealed brokenness.

    It settles in quietly.

    You start building walls instead of bridges.

    You stop expecting good things from God—or people.

    You stop praying like you used to.

    You stop returning.

    But here’s the invitation of the gospel: Come back. Again. And again. And again.

    God is not weary of your return. He doesn’t count how many times you’ve had to start over. He just wants your heart. Even if it’s still bleeding.

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

    “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22–23, NKJV)

    Your brokenness doesn’t disqualify you—it’s what draws His nearness. If you feel weary, distant, or numb… don’t run from God. Run to Him. Take the broken pieces and lay them before the only One who can turn ashes into beauty and mourning into joy.

    This isn’t about fixing yourself. It’s about trusting the God who still draws near, even when your heart’s in pieces.

    So here’s today’s reflection:

    • What broken pieces are you still carrying?
    • Have they hardened you—or humbled you?
    • What’s one way you can return to God’s faithful presence right now?

    You’re not too far gone. You’re not too broken. You’re just one return away from restoration.