“A broken and contrite heart You will never despise” (Psalm 51:17b)

I never understood this verse until this morning. I used to question why God likes a broken heart. Does He enjoy seeing us suffer? Does He delight in our sadness?

Then the Holy Spirit impressed in my heart that the context of this verse was from when David repented and returned to the Lord. It was all about returning to God; returning to His presence.

Returning to God in worship even with a broken heart is very rare for we can only do it in this lifetime. Worshipping even when there’s suffering. Worshipping even when there’s loss. Worshipping even in the midst of a storm. Declaring that He is good even when your circumstances say otherwise.

Pain, disappointments, and trials were never designed to just permanently damage you. That’s the enemy’s desire; to traumatize and paralyze you with fear so that you become ineffective. But God’s purpose for pain is to refine. To train us to become the champions we’re destined to be (co heirs with Christ). - because we won’t just be lounging around in heaven with our harps and diapers, we’re actually called to rule and reign with Him (Daniel 7:27, Rev 5:9-10, Rev 20:4, Rev 2:25-26), the Bible even says we will judge angels 🤯 (1 Cor 6:1-3).

But it takes great humility to return to God. I understand that pride makes us want to protect our dysfunctions, pride would even go as far as trying to discredit the validity of the Bible. But I’ve seen the fruits. I’ve seen the instability and fear of those people who trust in their own strength, and I’ve seen the grace and peace of people who humbly returned to the Lord.

So why does God love a broken heart? - because in the context of Psalm 51, this kind of “broken heart” led David back to the Lord. Where will your broken heart lead to?