“Crushed”

When something is crushed, it’s ruined beyond repair; maybe even unrecognizable. You can think of a catastrophic accident where some huge rock or structure falls on someone and they are crushed. It’s a terrible thought. 

Psalm 34 speaks about being crushed…. being crushed in spirit. When someone is “crushed in spirit”, they are  almost beyond repair, maybe unrecognizable. Usually it includes major disappointment, despair, loss of hope …. maybe only a flicker of hope is left. 

Have you ever been “crushed in spirit”? I know people who have been crushed in spirit…maybe thru the death of a loved one, a child, a spouse, a dear friend. Maybe addiction has been the giant rock that has landed on that person. I think I’ve been partially crushed in spirit.

I know of someone who is being crushed thru an addiction to alcohol. Despite heroic efforts by all parties, this person is crushed ….. hope seems to be gone; with this disaster, family and friends have gone thru great suffering. It almost seems too much for everyone.

But what does the Lord have to say about this? Does he join the voices that say, let’s end this mess, there’s no hope left, it’s never going to work out …… NO !!! The psalmist tells us, “When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles.The LORD is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit.(Ps. 34:18) The Lord is near to the brokenhearted. The Lord saves the crushed in spirit.” I believe perhaps we are nearest to the Lord when we are crushed in spirit. He’s at our side, not to chide and condemn, but to tenderly hold and care for and heal. He’s there to say, “it’s going to be okay…I’m here for you… I’m not going to leave you….I will never leave you…I save the crushed in spirit.”

So, what does that mean for us? What should we do when we encounter someone who is crushed in spirit… maybe it’s you or me, or maybe a family member, a friend, or an acquaintance? We need to not give up. We need to bring hope. We need to join Jesus in being near to them. We need to ask Jesus to heal them. Often the results seem to come slowly. Ask the Lord to give us patience. And in the Lord’s perfect time, our dear beloved one will be saved. And that is more of the good news that comes from the tender heart of our great God.

P.S. My mother suffered from an addiction to alcohol for many years. At times she was crushed in spirit. Family and friends suffered with her. Thru prayer and support she never quit trying despite the pain.  And one day the Lord “delivered her out of her troubles” and she never took another drink. Years later she died in the arms of the Lord. I’m asking today for her to pray from heaven for this person who is now suffering so much.