“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” Psalm‬ ‭34:18‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Do you feel broken, unworthy, or unusable? Do you think your past is just too much for God to forgive? Well, I have good news for you - you are not alone. We all have one or more shame-inducing memories that feel permanently stamped on the pages of our minds. It is in this place of despair that the words of Psalm 34:18 begin the process of healing and should bring us great comfort; “the Lord is near to the brokenhearted and (He) saves the crushed in spirit.”

But maybe you have tried everything to run from your brokenness. You have attempted and failed at pretending it isn’t there, but Satan keeps bringing it back up at the absolute worst times. You’ve tried putting a fancy new coat of paint on it, but deep down, you know that your pain is still lurking below the surface.

So how are you and I supposed to move forward from this place of despair? As painful as it may sound, we must allow the Lord to bring our past out of the shadows and into the light. John 1:5 tells us that “the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” In the light, Jesus begins the process of redeeming our pain. As we connect with Him through daily prayer and worship, our shame and regret are transformed into meaning and purpose.

Today, surrender the brokenness in your life to Jesus. Let Him heal your past. Let Him mold and shape you into the person He created you to be. And then watch and see if He doesn’t restore the dark places of your heart, using them to bring healing to others. Because in God’s kingdom, our brokenness is never wasted.

To read more devotions on leaving the past in the past click here.

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About the Author

Nathan Miller is a passionate follower of Jesus who strives to connect, surrender, and partner with Him on a daily basis. He is the founder of OnThe3rdDay, a resource created to help others more fully Live a Life On Mission For Jesus. Nathan is devoted to studying God's word, writing about following Jesus in today's culture, and discipling others who want to do the same.  He is also a husband, father, friend, mentor, ultra-marathon runner, NBA basketball enthusiast, fan of all things tech, and music lover. He lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with his wife and two kids, where they are involved in their local church, North Way Christian Community.