I have begun something new the last few months: Every Wednesday I go to a prayer room, and I pray. At the church there is a cool Labyrinth created to assist you as you pray, so you walk through it while you pray. I really enjoy this as I am not a very good sitter when it comes to prayer, I prefer to move.

Last week, I was heavy hearted as I was interceding for several impossibly difficult situations. To be honest, it felt overwhelming. As I walked that Labyrinth and prayed, something very odd happened. I heard an old nursery rhyme:

“Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. All the King’s horses and all the King’s men couldn’t put Humpty together again”. Then the Lord spoke again and said, “ But I can”.

As I prayed about each impossible situation of individuals whose lives were devastated by consequences of bad decisions, this nursery rhyme kept coming to me and the Lord’s words repeated “ but I can”. It brought me peace and relief. Every situation I brought to the Lord in prayer was about people whose lives were in pieces. Far too difficult for me or anyone to put together again. God’s intervention is needed.

Psalm 34: 17-18 says: “The righteous cry out and the Lord hears them, he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in Spirit.”

As we call out to God, we can be assured that He does hear us and that He will deliver us from our troubles. It may not always look as we imagine, but the promise that he is near to us is sure, especially to those who are crushed in spirit.

For parents or grandparents who are reading this today and are heavy hearted over a loved one, God sees and knows. He is very nearby. The Lord who loves you, does not shrink back because your heart is broken over the choices of those who are so very dear to you.

In our own family, we have faced heartbreak over the years but God has been faithful. I would not say He was as fast as we would have liked, but always faithful. He gave us what we needed each day, courage, strength and comfort in our overwhelming sadness.

My prayer for you is this:

Dear Father,

I pray for Your peace to fill the hearts of Your loved one reading this right now. Thank You that brokenness does not cause You to worry or stress. Thank You that You are able to restore every life as we lay them before You today. Make Your nearness clear to each one.

In Jesus Name,

Amen