Read Psalm 147:1-3
Psalm 147:1-3 shows us that God knows our hearts and sees when we are in pain and brokenhearted. The psalmist reminds us in verse 3 that God binds up and heals our wounds. It’s a picture of a compassionate God who feels with us and does not leave us to deal with our disappointments, losses, and pain by ourselves. He gives us the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, and many brothers and sisters in Christ.
This passage reminds me of a song we often sing at Eastbrook called “Way Maker” which says,
Even when I don’t see it,
You’re working.
Even when I don’t feel it,
You’re working.
You never stop,
You never stop working.
I am sure we all have had periods in our lives where we felt brokenhearted: after losing a loved one, a devastating diagnosis, after losing a job, a home, or a divorce, etc. It can be hard to praise God during these times and to trust in Him fully. But Psalm 147:1 reminds us to sing praises to our Lord! Not only because God deserves it; but by focusing on Him and reminding us how God has helped Israel in the past, our faith in Him is strengthened and we are encouraged to trust in Him for our situation as well. God hears our prayers and knows our sorrows.
When I read these verses, I was also reminded of Psalm 126:5 which says, “Those who sow with tears, shall reap with songs of joy.” Tears of sorrow or despair are like liquid prayers crying out to God. It can be difficult to remember His faithfulness and compassion during times of hardship because all we see is our situation. We can feel hopeless and depressed, and sometimes even forget to go to the Lord in prayer. But our God knows and sees us no matter what, and like the song says, He is working—even when we don’t feel it in real time. So, let us reflect on events in our past, how God provided and never let us down, just like the psalmist does in this psalm. And then, remember that the LORD is still the same and worthy of our praise!
For Reflection:
- When you are brokenhearted, what do you say to God in your prayers? Do you have a favorite Scripture you can recite by heart when you are facing hard times? If not—pick one today!
By AnnA Jaehnert
