The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit.

Our God is a God who forgives people of their sins. When they come to the point where they are ready to confess their sins, God is ready to forgive them and cleanse them. The Apostle John says, “If we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness,” (1 John 1:9). When we confess, He also saves us from our trouble. Indeed, when we were first saved, He “delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins,” (Colossians 1:13-14).

To get to the point that starts the process, in order to get to the point of confession, people may have to go through some things. They may first have to come to the point where their hearts are broken. The brokenhearted of our verse for today are those who have gone through trouble. They are those who have tried to make it on their own and have finally given up. Their hearts are broken because they have finally realized the sin and bankruptcy of everything they were trying to accomplish.

God is close to such people. The omnipresent God who is near to all comes even closer to the brokenhearted. He will not turn away from or reject a broken and repentant heart (Psalm 51:17).

But God does more than just come close to such people. He also saves them. After their hearts have been broken, after their spirits have become contrite, God comes close to them, accepts them, and delivers them. He heals their broken hearts, and He restores their contrite spirits. He lifts them up from their failures and gives them the strength to move forward again. God is more than willing to do this; He is more than willing to bless them: “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit,” (Psalm 32:1-2).

Today, consider the state you are in. Consider the state of your heart and spirit. If your heart is broken and if your spirit is contrite, then get ready. Get ready for your forgiveness and restoration.

By John Huisman, friend of Bible League International