Seeking God When Hearts are Broken and Afflictions are Many

"The LORD is near to the brokenhearted
    and saves the crushed in spirit..

Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
    but the LORD rescues them from them all." (Psalm 34:18,19)

There are many today who have broken hearts and crushed spirits.  The news about jobs really is not getting better.  The gulf oil spill makes so many of us sad and angry.  Politicians are disappointing us.  People around us are poor, without work, struggling to make ends meet.  The Tea Party is working to promote an agenda of violence and prejudice.  Religious conservatives are waging a war to maintain the misinformation about women and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people.  Church leaders are failing to be inclusive and are finding every excuse or reason to exclude.

God is often closer to us than any human being can be. There is no question that when we are hurting inside over what is crushing us emotionally, the arms of someone who lovingly embraces us is a helpful experience.  Even when we do not have someone that close to us, to do that for us, God is right where our hearts are.  God knows that our hearts brake when life hurts.  God's own heart brakes when our hearts brake.  God may not answer our prayers by giving us the job we did not get.  God may not console us by bringing back someone who has broken our hearts when they left us, but God does come close to us and is with us as we face our pain, anxiety, fear and need for love.

When Jesus was among us in the Gospel stories, Jesus was often closest to those who's hearts and lives were broken.  In Jesus, God showed us that in our lowest and most vulnerable moments we are never alone.  Even in death, God is closest to us and will give us new life through Jesus who was raised from the dead.

In God there is always hope.  LGBT people can approach God and live in a relationship to God.  LGBT people do not have to change or "repent" of our sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression to live in relationship to God.  However, it is a good idea to have some kind of moral compass, Spiritual friend and loving companion as LGBT people.  Our difficulties are many.  Our challenges are almost without limit.  Our days and weeks ahead will have their disappointments as well as many victories and surprises.  However, God is closest to us and God will at some point rescue us from all our distress.  Are we willing to listen, pray, and follow Jesus and his Cross so that we too can find hope in God as we face the challenges of our daily lives?

Keep, O Lord, your household the Church in your steadfast faith and love, that through your grace we may proclaim your truth with boldness, and minister your justice with compassion; for the sake of our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Proper 6, Book of Common Prayer, Page 230).

Almighty and eternal God, so draw our hearts to you, so guide our minds, so fill our imaginations, so control our wills, that we may be wholly yours, utterly dedicated unto you; and then use us, we pray you, as you will, and always to your glory and the welfare of your people; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. (Prayer for Self Dedication, Book of Common Prayer, Page 832).

O God of peace, who has taught us that in returning and rest we shall be saved, in quietness and in confidence shall be our strength: By the might of your Spirit lift us, we pray to you, to your presence, where we may be still and know that you are God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for Quiet Confidence, Book of Common Prayer, Page 832).