Setting the Captives Free

by Drawing Near to God

07.30.20

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn.

Isaiah 61:1-2

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. (Psalm 34:18) At times we all experience a broken heart.

Illness, death of loved ones, loss, and broken relationships all contribute to broken hearts. But God has promised that He is near us when our spirits are crushed.

I always wanted to protect my children from having their hearts broken. Children can be so cruel, and it was so hard when my children were the recipients of harsh words or rejection from friends. We all have been there at some time. We all have experienced the heartache when a friend lets us down or an opportunity we had been hoping for passes us by. Psalm 34 reminds us that when the righteous cry out, the Lord delivers us from our troubles. What a comfort it is to know that God stands by on the playground of life with our children, in our homes, and in the workplace ready to comfort us when the arrows come our way.

God speaks to Israel in her time of need: Fear not, for I have redeemed you, I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned. (Isaiah 43:1-2)

Oh, beloved child of God, He will never forsake you in your hour of need. He sees your hurts and disappointments – the rivers that threaten to overtake you and the fires that threaten to burn you. He sees your heartaches for your loved ones; He knows them by name. He has engraved you on the palms of His hands and never forgets you. (Isaiah 49:16)

When you go through times where the enemy throws arrows in your heart, remember to put up your shield of faith: …take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish the flaming arrows of the evil one. (Ephesians 6:16) God will not only carry you through the heartache, He will tenderly remove every arrow of hurt and replace it with His love.