The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. (Psalm 34:18, ESV)
We all have enjoyed a great comeback story or two in our lives. Nothing compares to watching or hearing about someone seemingly “down for the count” who then rallies and triumphs against all odds.
On the other hand, most of us have also watched, heard about, or participated in a massive collapse from an all-but-assured victory. Experiencing defeat when you have already mentally rehearsed your victory speech is a crushing blow to the soul.
It is virtually impossible to feel what Mr. Palmer felt after giving up a seven-shot lead on the final nine in the 1966 U.S. Open to lose the following day in an 18-hole playoff to Billy Casper.
If we were to rank the greatest collapses in the history of competitive golf, Jean Van de Velde’s 1999 British Open debacle has to be in the top three, right? Standing on the final tee of the 1999 British Open with a three-shot lead, he triple-bogeyed the hole and ultimately lost the right to hoist the Claret Jug in a playoff.
The pain of Adam Scott’s loss to Ernie Els in the 2012 Open is immeasurable. To lead by four shots with four to play and lose would certainly keep a man up at night. It hurts to think about it.
Adding insult to injury, someone comes along and says, “Right, but it’s just a game.” This person has either never played golf or has a rock-hard heart. The last thing anyone needs in moments of crushing defeat is a knucklehead trying to give perspective.
Snatching defeat out of the jaws of victory on a golf course is one thing; experiencing crushing losses in life’s journey is yet another. Examples abound: Being terminated at work, especially when they say, “We are downsizing,” or a spouse’s betrayal, especially when it comes out of the blue, or an unexpected diagnosis from your doctor.
How do we process such horrific news? Where do we turn in the face of such dire circumstances? How do we navigate the road ahead? I don’t know about you, but I want to be surrounded by my immediate family and closest friends.
But, most especially, I desperately want and need to sense the “nearness of God.” The Puritans called this experience “the felt nearness of God.” The Christian God (there is no other) is always near, but we are not always aware of his presence.
Experiencing the “felt presence” of the Father through the mediating work of the Son by the power of the Holy Spirit is a supernatural work of grace, to be sure. Having a positive mental attitude is important, but it can’t compare to knowing the nearness of God.
We can, however, persistently draw near to him in prayer and trust that the Lord will meet us in our darkest hour with his comforting, strengthening, and healing presence.
As the Psalmist captures it, “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” Having an awareness of his presence in moments of suffering provides the needed strength to “…press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14).
As James promises, “Draw near to him, and he will draw near to you” (James 4:8). Let us “go vertical” and discover the goodness of the Lord and the vast storehouse of his infinite resources to battle the darkness that assail us.
Prayer: Lord! I confess that I need to sense your nearness and experience your strength when I am weak.