A Word for the Brokenhearted

Welcome to Word for the Week, the series in which I:

share my experience of hearing God’s Word in Mass last weekend,
explore what I believe the Lord is calling me to do about that Word, and
ask how this Word might impact your life, as well.

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"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted" -Psalm 34:19

When the words stood out to me during Mass two Sundays back, I was feeling wonderfully. I was in the pew with David and our son, Jamal. Our three daughters were at the children's liturgy. I had just returned from a ten-day tour, and I felt like things were going beautifully. "What do you want me to do about this word, Lord?" My thoughts first went to others who are brokenhearted.

Two days later, I gave a concert for a local parish in AZ. They’d felt the impact of COVID 19 acutely. Particularly, the community lost a young leader and musician in the past couple of weeks. I didn't have the blessing of knowing him personally, but I'd met family members of his. The Lord impressed a deeper awareness of their loss though my Word for the Week—that I needed to speak and sing for those who are mourning. The concert ended up being a meaningful night of prayer, song, laughter, and tears.

Later in the week, I went to a recording studio across town. My favorite audio engineer and I worked on a new song. It's something I composed acoustically, but now it has a definitive R&B production style. As I was leaving the studio, a deeper meaning of the lyrics—and of the experience of production—hit me.

I thought of the words that I had just listened to on repeat, as we mixed the song:

"When I hear your name, I recall your face with a joke around your mouth
Didn't work the way that I hoped, My heart broke
But look at me now! I'm living in love
I am confident, I am unafraid, And I'm grateful that you came"

As I drove away from the recording studio, I remembered a photo that my friend, Kate, took of me recently. She captured an image of me kneeling near the Grotto at the University of Notre Dame. I had to smile on my drive home: God certainly has been close to me when I was brokenhearted.

The Grotto was the physical location of deep heartache for me in the past. What a surprise to be able to visit again, and to be so filled up with joy, song, and even laughter! It was a reminder that God is near in all of the seasons of life. So as the seasons change from summer to autumn this month, I’ll invite you to reflect with me on the words of Ecclesiastes 3:11.

“God has made everything appropriate to its time, but has put the timeless into their hearts so they cannot find out, from beginning to end, the work which God has done.”

That word, timelessness. It’s haunting! Maybe you’re heartbroken today, and it feels like you’ll never recover. Or maybe you’re on the other side of heartbreak, able to laugh with joy at how far you’ve come. Whatever season you’re in, let’s pray, “Lord, help us to know you are close to us, even as we marvel at the mystery of your timing. Amen.”

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