A Broken and Contrite Heart

"You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise." (Psalm 51:16-17)

When someone complains to me about his boss, wife and children, I feel sad for him. It must be hard for someone to be rejected by everyone around him. Sometimes I hear similar stories from teenagers or young adults who have no friends. "My teachers pick on me. Other students despise me."

Often time, the pain is so much that the person is desperately trying to escape the pain. Some people pretend they don't care. They withdraw from the world and try to find temporary relief from drugs, alcohol, games, and Internet pornography. Can they really serve the problems on their own? Do they know God will not despise them no matter how bad they may be?

King David felt sorry for what he did and he asked God to forgive him and help him. That's why God called him a man after His own heart.

Copyright © 2006 Winnis Chiang, Parenting ABC