5th Sunday in Ordinary Time
R. Praise the Lord, who heals the brokenhearted.
Written by Jasmyn Joubert
We live in a world filled with incredible joy and devastating heartbreak. Our lives are a balance of the two and today’s psalm offers consolation and hope for the moments where you are at your lowest. "Praise the Lord, who heals the brokenhearted" – a refrain that resonates deep within my own heart, etched with the scars of loss and trauma. The echoes of pain linger, yet in the midst of it all, there's an awareness of the Lord's abiding presence.
The psalm opens with an invitation to praise, a call to lift our eyes to the Lord even amidst our pain. As I reflect on this, I am reminded that praise is not contingent on a pain-free existence but is a bridge to healing. In the vulnerability of brokenness, I have encountered a profound closeness with God, a sense of the Lord's nearness. In those moments where I have felt like there was nothing left I realized that God’s presence was the constant. It is in the quiet moments of despair that His presence becomes an assurance that I am not alone in the depths of my suffering.
When we are walking through suffering it is tempting to distance ourselves from the Lord. To feel like He would never understand. This psalm reminds me of the suffering Jesus endured and the tender compassion of a Savior who intimately knows our pain. In the wake of loss and trauma, I have felt the weight of grief lifted not by the absence of suffering, but by the gentle hands of the One who deeply understands a broken heart. It is in these moments that the healing power of Jesus becomes more than a theological concept; it becomes a real, tangible experience of presence and beauty arising from ashes.
The suffering we experience is not going to instantly be taken away and healed (no matter how much we may desire that). Throughout it, though, God is there. With us in the mess. With us in the pain. More present than we can ever imagine. He desires to heal your broken heart and will use any means necessary. He is there with you in every comforting word from friends, in every hug from a loved one, in every desperate moment of prayer, in every therapy session, in every moment you feel like it is all too much. He is there and working in every small way possible while you walk through the incredible joy and the devastating heartbreak of this life.
How can you lay down your suffering and allow God to begin healing your broken heart today?
Reflect back on the ways you have healed in the past. Where do you see God throughout that journey?
Jasmyn Joubert is a school counselor by trade and a mom of two daughters by vocation. She has a passion for public speaking, specifically on the intersection of faith and mental health. Most recently, Jasmyn was named President of Alive in You Outreach, a non-profit that focuses on creating servant hearts among the teens in our Church. Follow Jasmyn on Instagram.
Pray with today’s psalm.