By Dave Beatty, Founder of Riders Against Domestic Violence
“The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.”
— Psalm 34:18 (KJV)
There are mornings when you wake up tired before your feet ever touch the floor. You have carried so much for so long that even a quiet moment can feel heavy.
Maybe you miss the person you were before someone taught you to question yourself. Maybe you are grieving a relationship you hoped would become something different. Maybe you have found safety, but your heart hasn’t caught up with the change.
And somewhere in that hurt, you may have asked: God, do You see what I’m going through?
Psalm 34:18 offers a tender answer: the Lord is near to the brokenhearted.
Notice where this verse meets us. It meets us in the heartbreak itself. There is no requirement to gather yourself together, find the perfect prayer, or put on a brave face before approaching God.
You can come with the words you have—even if those words are simply, “Lord, I’m tired.”
Your pain is not a failure of faith
People sometimes struggle with an added burden after abuse: the belief that they should be handling it better.
I should be stronger by now. I should be over this. If I trusted God more, maybe I wouldn’t feel so afraid.
But this verse makes room for a broken heart. It acknowledges that people who turn toward God can still be deeply wounded.
You can believe and still cry. You can pray and still need someone to sit beside you. You can have hope for your future and grieve what happened to you.
The phrase “contrite spirit” can sound unfamiliar. It speaks of being humbled and deeply bowed down. For someone reading this after abuse, it must never become another accusation: being harmed does not make you responsible for another person’s cruelty.
The responsibility for abuse belongs to the person choosing it. Your wounds are not proof that you failed God.
God’s nearness is not an instruction to remain in danger
For some survivors, faith has been used against them. Someone may have told them that being a good spouse means staying silent, that forgiveness means restoring access, or that seeking help shows a lack of trust in God.
Psalm 34:18 gives no such instruction. It speaks of God’s care for those who are hurting.
You can seek safety and hold on to your faith. You can establish boundaries and still have a compassionate heart. You can work through questions about forgiveness without offering someone another opportunity to harm you.
Prayer and practical help can belong in the same life. A trusted person, an advocate, a counselor, or a safe place to turn can be part of the support you need.
You do not have to choose between asking God for help and accepting help from another person.
Healing can begin with one small step
When you have spent a long time trying to get through each day, the future can feel overwhelming. Even the word healing may sound like another job you don’t have the strength to do.
For today, let the next step be small.
Perhaps it is acknowledging, privately, that what happened hurt you. Perhaps it is allowing yourself to rest without calling yourself lazy. Perhaps it is telling someone trustworthy, “I could use someone to listen.”
A small step does not erase the past. It can give you a little room to breathe in the present.
And a difficult day afterward does not erase that step.
Why RADV exists
At Riders Against Domestic Violence, our mission is to be a bridge—to information, resources, support, and the possibility of a life beyond abuse.
We cannot know every detail of the road you have traveled. You should not have to share every detail to be treated with dignity.
What we want you to hear is this: your life has value right now. While you are uncertain. While you are grieving. While you are still figuring out what comes next.
As we begin Faith for the Road Ahead, we begin with the promise of God’s nearness. You do not have to pretend your heart is whole to be worthy of care.
God has not forgotten your broken heart.
One gentle step for this week
If it is safe, reach out to one trustworthy person with a simple request: “I’m having a hard time. Could you listen for a few minutes?”
You get to decide how much to share.
A prayer for the road ahead
Lord, draw near to the person reading this who feels worn down, frightened, or forgotten. Help them recognize that they are worthy of love, dignity, and safety. Give them wisdom for their next step and people who will listen without judgment. When words are hard to find, meet them in the quiet. Help us at RADV become a bridge to compassionate, practical support. In Jesus’ name, amen.
You survived. You matter. Keep going. One mile at a time.
Riders Against Domestic Violence — We Are the Bridge.
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© 2026 Riders Against Domestic Violence (RADV).