Broken But Loved

Title: Broken But Loved

Scripture: "The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit." - Psalm 34:18 (KJV)

Introduction:

Brothers and sisters, I want to talk to some hearts today. There are times when life just doesn’t make sense, times when we find ourselves standing in the middle of a mess, holding the broken pieces of dreams, shattered hopes, and battered faith. But I want you to hear me this morning: the message of Psalm 34:18 reminds us that we are not alone in our brokenness! It tells us that the Lord, our God, is near—yes, nigh—to those whose hearts have been torn apart. And He saves those who are crushed in spirit.

We live in a world that celebrates perfection. We scroll through social media and all we see is the highlight reel of other people’s lives. We hear about success and victories, but nobody talks about the pain that comes when the cameras are off and the lights are dim. But today, we’re not here to hide our brokenness. We’re here to bring it into the light of God’s love. Because in the hands of God, brokenness is not a barrier—it’s an invitation for Him to come close and work His healing power in our lives.

I. The Reality of Brokenness

First, we need to acknowledge something that many of us struggle to admit. We are broken. Yes, you and me. Everyone under the sound of my voice has faced brokenness in one form or another. It’s part of the human experience. We live in a fallen world, a world marked by sin, suffering, and sorrow. And if we’re honest with ourselves, we know that brokenness doesn’t just exist out there—it exists right here inside us.

A. Recognizing our brokenness

It takes courage, family, to recognize that we’re not perfect, to admit that we have areas in our lives that are fractured, that are falling apart. Too many of us walk around pretending like everything is fine. We wear the mask of strength, but inside we’re barely holding it together. Let me tell you this: pretending to be whole doesn’t make you whole. Ignoring your brokenness doesn’t heal it. We have to be real with ourselves, real with God, and even real with each other. Until we can say, “Lord, I’m broken,” we can’t receive the healing that God wants to pour into us.

B. The sources of brokenness

But where does this brokenness come from? Oh, I know, it’s not all our fault. Sometimes we are broken by circumstances beyond our control—by illness, by betrayal, by the loss of a loved one. Sometimes we are broken by the sins of others, by people who walked into our lives and left us worse than they found us. And sometimes, yes, sometimes we are broken by our own choices, our own mistakes, our own sins. But here’s the good news: no matter where the brokenness comes from, God’s response is the same. He doesn’t turn His back on us because we’ve made mistakes. He doesn’t walk away when life breaks us down. Instead, He draws closer. He’s not afraid of our mess.

C. The impact of brokenness on our lives

But oh, how brokenness can affect us, church. Brokenness can change the way we see ourselves. It can make us feel less than, unworthy, unlovable. Brokenness can isolate us, making us feel like nobody understands what we’re going through, like nobody can really help. It can lead to depression, to anxiety, to fear. And for some of us, it’s led to bitterness. But I’m here to tell you that even in the midst of all that, God is near.

II. God's Love for the Broken-hearted

Now, here’s the beauty of this scripture. It says, "The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart." He’s not far away, waiting for you to get yourself together. He’s nigh—right there with you, sitting in your pain, walking with you through the fire, standing beside you in the storm. God doesn’t abandon the broken; He loves the broken-hearted with a fierce, unfailing love.

A. God's compassion for the broken

When we look at the Bible, we see God’s heart of compassion for the broken. Look at how He met the woman at the well—alone, ashamed, rejected by her community. Jesus didn’t avoid her; He sought her out. He sat down right beside her and spoke to her heart. Look at how He touched the lepers, those who were cast out by society. Jesus wasn’t afraid of their disease, their broken bodies—He healed them. Family, that’s the God we serve! He’s not intimidated by our brokenness, He’s moved with compassion toward us.

B. The transformative power of God's love