Where’s your heart this Thanksgiving?
Is it exploding, bursting at the seams with gladness and gratitude, eager to make known your praise of a glorious God?
I hope so. His gifts are many; His grace extravagant; His love unending.
But if your heart just hurts…if thanks-feeling is painfully absent from your thanksgiving, you have an offering that’s perhaps the most beautiful of all.
Bring your broken and burdened heart to the altar and lay it down.
For You will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; You will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.
Psalm 51:16-17
God does not despise your brokenness. No, it’s quite the opposite. He draws near.
“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18
You are the God who draws near to my broken heart. You don’t turn away. You don’t despise me or my hard feelings. You embrace them! You embrace me! Oh, gracious God, kind Father, here it is: a brokenhearted hallelujah. You get all my praise!
Don’t give up, beloved. Your tearful prayers rise up to a holy, faithful God. He collects each tear. He holds each piece of your shattered heart together. Bring your broken boldly to the throne of grace, and ready your heart to receive His most tender mercies.
