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"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those who are crushed in spirit. The righteous face many troubles, but the Lord rescues them from each and every one." Psalm 34:18-19

As I walked to my youngest daughter's room to say, "Good night", the emotional truck ran me over. She's not there anymore. An entire day of moving her into her college dorm was blocked from my memory -- for just a second. Even positive and healthy events are accompanied with heartache not to mention the agony of negative events. What do we do with it?

David knew heartbreak. He was betrayed, slandered and hunted like a wild animal. He buried two of his children, one who tried to kill him. He was crushed under the weight of his own guilt and sin and disciplined sharply by God. His response? Run to God and don't let go. He leaned into God's nearness.

This week some of us will lose our job. Some will be served divorce papers. Some will head to bankruptcy. Others of us will pick up flowers for a grave. An unwanted diagnosis. The betrayal of a friend. An accident ... THE call. It may not be our week this week, but it will be our turn soon. Then what? "Trials of many kinds", Jesus said. May we all come to embrace and enter into the closeness of God rain or shine.

Grace and Peace,

Tom

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