Cool Story, Tell it Again
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those whose spirits are crushed.”
Psalm 34:18 (NLT)
When my kids were teenagers, they had this phrase they would say to me... when I shared something so not cool-which happened quite often! They would say, “Cool story. Tell it again. Tell it at a party to make new friends.” This phrase became a joke in our house, and every time I tried to repeat it back to them, I messed it up! I just could not get the phrasing right! I messed it up so badly, I actually typed it and saved it in the notes in my phone. Then I could look at it and quote it correctly to my harsh teenage audience. The problem was, by the time I got this down, the fad had passed. It was not even funny anymore-except to me! Funny thing, I still have this saved in my phone, and I just cannot delete it.
This phrase is just one of a hundred reminders to me that we made it. We made it to the point where we could joke, have fun, and laugh about silly things. We made it to the point the kids could tease me, and we could smile again. Even as I type this, tears are rushing to escape my eyes and travel down my cheek all because I am writing these words: we made it. We left an abusive marriage situation seventeen years ago now. I put my four young children, two dogs, photo albums, pillows, and a bag of each child’s favorite things in the car. We drove across the country to safety. When I thought things were hopeless, God always made a way. It was step by step, moment by moment, but God never left our side. He kept His promises. He was close to us, though we didn’t always feel it, and He rescued us. I thought the desert season would last forever-and it did last a very long time, but God did it. He rescued us from it!
I share this with you because at the time our hearts were so broken, we could barely breathe. Yet, God never left our side. We didn’t understand why things happened the way they did, or why the pain was so unbearable. We could not imagine that any good would ever come from this heartache. But... God had another plan! I want to encourage you wherever you are in your journey: when your heart is broken, God is so close to you even if you do not feel His
presence. When your spirits are crushed-not just down but crushed like broken glass that can never be put back together again, God can rescue you. Only God.
He is HOPE. He can rescue you and you will not believe the new design He can make from what is broken.