Over the years, we've met so many people with so many experiences. As the ups and downs of life shape and reshape us, we often find ourselves clinging to certain verses as a source of hope and strength. One verse that hit home for me was Psalm 34:18. When I was 24 years old, I was in my third year of medical school. My wife was teaching third grade, and she was 32 weeks pregnant. We were given tickets to the Indianapolis Symphony.
I had just finished the easiest and most fun week of medical school, a solid week of doing nothing but examining healthy newborn babies. The point of the week is to solidify the complete newborn exam in the budding doctors' minds so it becomes automatic and is never forgotten.
Amy and I enjoyed a nice dinner then went to see and hear the Dukes of Dixieland, Hoagy Carmichael's nephew, and the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. During the concert, Amy experienced a few painless contractions. We thought little of it, enjoyed the rest of our evening, and settled in for a good night's rest.
We awakened early as Amy began to experience painful and increasing contractions. Too early. Not ready. Never ready for what came next.
When we arrived in labor and delivery, the nurse greeted us with a smile that faded as soon as she checked for our baby's heart beat.
Our glass slipper shattered, and it wasn't even midnight yet.
The heartache of that moment, the moments that followed, and the days that felt like years was more than we thought we could bear. I couldn't even express how I felt.
Until I read that verse.
"The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."
"Broken-hearted" wasn't enough to describe how I felt. "Crushed in spirit" resonated. It seemed my spirit had been pulverized and trampled, but God was there. He knew our pain. He felt it. He endured it. He shared it. And He was close to us and carried us through.
That's what a life verse is. You find your deepest, darkest heartache, and even there, you discover God is with you.
Huge thanks to Mike Bridgewater our engineer, JD Miller our musical wizard, and Mt Gilead Church our home to record.
Thank YOU for listening. We pray our efforts help you focus on Jesus the author, editor, and publisher of everything worth believing in.
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