November 10
At the Edge
of Darkness
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
Psalm 34:18 (NIrV)
Martin sat alone in his dimly lit apartment, the walls feeling smaller with each passing moment. The bottle of whiskey in his hand was almost empty. He’d already had more than enough, but the sharp pain in his chest—both physical and emotional—drove him to drink even more. His life had unraveled in front of him. His wife, Sarah, had filed for divorce. She was taking the kids, the house, and the life he once knew. He had nothing left.
His addiction to alcohol had driven a wedge between them for years. The late nights, the broken promises, the endless arguments—he had tried to stop, but the pain was too much to bear. And now, as he looked around his empty apartment, the only thing that seemed certain was that he had failed. He had failed as a husband. He had failed as a father. And now, he was losing everything.
The thought of ending it all crept into his mind. Maybe an overdose would be the answer. Maybe then, all the pain and heartbreak would stop. He reached for the pills sitting on the counter. He didn’t even hesitate anymore. There was no point in living if everything he loved was slipping away. He wasn’t even sure what he was living for anymore.
Just as he was about to swallow the pills, something—someone—stopped him.
It was the sound of a knock at the door.
His hand froze, trembling, as the knocking continued. His mind was clouded, but somehow, he knew it wasn’t just any knock. This wasn’t a call from a creditor or another person from his past. This was different.
With a hesitant breath, Martin got up and shuffled to the door. He opened it to find a man standing there—a neighbor he hardly knew. The man was older, dressed casually, and seemed to radiate kindness.
“Hey, Martin,” he said softly. “I’ve been thinking about you. I know things are tough right now, but I just wanted to let you know that I’m here for you. I don’t know what you’re going through, but I do know you’re not alone. God loves you, even in your darkest moments. And if you ever need someone to talk to, I’ll be right here.”
The man didn’t try to fix Martin’s problems. He didn’t offer empty promises or advice. He simply showed up. In that moment, as Martin looked at the man, something shifted. For the first time in weeks, he didn’t feel completely invisible.
The man didn’t wait for an answer. He just smiled and left. But as Martin closed the door, something deep inside him began to stir. The words the neighbor had said echoed in his mind: “God loves you, even in your darkest moments.”
God? Martin had long stopped believing in anything—long before his marriage fell apart. But the words hung in the air like a lifeline, something to hold on to. Maybe, just maybe, there was hope after all.
In that moment of vulnerability, Martin’s heart cracked open just a little bit. He slowly set the pills down and sank to the floor, tears filling his eyes. He had nothing left, but somehow, in that space, he felt the presence of something greater than his pain.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
I come to You today feeling broken and lost.
My heart is heavy with the weight of my mistakes, and I feel like I have nothing left to give.
I have tried to fix things on my own, but I have failed. Thank You for showing up in the most unexpected way and reminding me that I am never truly alone.
Thank You for Your love that never fails, even when I feel unworthy.
Please help me to trust in Your healing power and know that You are close to the brokenhearted.
I pray that You will guide me through this darkness and help me find the strength to live again.
Help me to find peace in You and begin the journey of healing, knowing that Your love will restore what I have lost.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
