Psalm 34:15-22 “The LORD’s eyes are towards the righteous. His ears listen to their cry. The LORD’s face is against those who do evil, to cut off their memory from the earth. The righteous cry, and the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all. He protects all of his bones. Not one of them is broken. Evil shall kill the wicked. Those who hate the righteous shall be condemned. The LORD redeems the soul of his servants. None of those who take refuge in him shall be condemned.”

“Out of them all.” Strong words. We recognize that is God’s ultimate plan, while understanding that life on this earth does bring some hard times. Even then God is always with us, always watching over us, always helping us, always listening to us, and yes, even always protecting us. He makes sure that His own are His own forever, and we never have to fear being separated from Him!

“The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit.” While this should provide immense comfort for us, we understand that it is perhaps the most true when we are saved. When our hearts are broken and contrite because of our sin and we turn to God, that’s when He saves us!

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, through the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”

For additional worship: The Lord is My Salvation (Keith & Kristyn Getty)