The Brokenhearted
In Our Suffering, We Often Find Ourselves Closer to Christ.
Fasting is one example: in denying ourselves, we step into weakness, and it is precisely there that we encounter Jesus and the supernatural more fully.
In the same way, everyday trials often become the very places where His presence becomes most real. Sometimes it takes the deepest pain to usher us into encounters with Jesus we may never have known otherwise.
I recently watched a video that illustrated this truth. A young woman, a patient in a mental hospital, spoke of how often and how clearly she heard Jesus.
She described Him as present in even the smallest details of her life, guiding her words and actions. To her, His nearness was undeniable.
She mentioned having endured many troubles, though without detail. It immediately brought to mind Psalm 34:18: “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
It struck me that it was precisely because of her suffering that she experienced Jesus so profoundly. Not because He withholds such closeness from others, but because hardship strips away illusions of self-sufficiency.
Misfortune drives us to dependence on God; comfort often dulls our awareness of Him. Where fortune encourages self-reliance, affliction highlights our need for something greater.
For her, the troubles of life made her more receptive to the supernatural. She recognized that she was not enough—and neither was anyone else.
Her brokenness created space for the fullness of God. As Paul wrote, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). Her weakness gave way to a strength governed by the Holy Spirit.
She testified that Jesus told her to return to church. This was key. Because of her foundation in the true gospel, she recognized His voice.
It was not an unfamiliar or deceptive voice, but the Holy Spirit Himself. Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10).
The voice she heard led her not into destruction but into life, repentance, and surrender.
This reminded me: though the enemy plants affliction in our lives to destroy us, God counters with redemption, salvation, and a call to help others. It is often through life’s trials that we are drawn into relationship with God—and within that relationship, we discover salvation.
I too have experienced God in ways I believe many may not—not because of how blessed I have been, but because of how broken I have been.
Pain drove me to seek Him; my foundation in His Word showed me where to turn. Without my suffering, I would not know Him as I do now, nor would I be walking in His purpose for my life.
So I can say: the blessing is often found in the affliction. For many of us, salvation and transformation are birthed from brokenness that forces surrender.
Sometimes God allows a deep need so that we discover the deeper gift—the salvation of our souls.
If it weren’t for my need for redemption, I may never have chosen Christ. And perhaps… that was the plan all along.
