“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” — Psalm 34:18 (ESV)
There are wounds the world cannot see. Some are hidden behind years of silence, carefully managed schedules, or outward success. Yet beneath the surface, countless women—and men—carry the lingering pain of a past abortion. Regret, grief, shame, anger, or unanswered questions can quietly shape a person’s life long after the procedure itself.
The good news of the gospel is that no wound is beyond the reach of God’s redeeming grace. Psalm 34:18 offers a powerful promise: God does not distance Himself from those who are broken. He draws near. He is not repelled by our deepest failures or darkest moments. Instead, He meets us there with mercy, forgiveness, and the hope of restoration.
God Comes Close to the Brokenhearted
“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted…” David wrote these words from a place of personal distress. He understood what it meant to cry out to God while carrying fear, failure, and sorrow. His testimony reminds us that brokenness is not a barrier to God—it is often where His presence becomes most evident.
For someone carrying the pain of abortion, that truth can be life changing. The enemy whispers that the past defines them, that forgiveness is impossible, or that they must carry their shame forever. Scripture tells a different story. God moves toward those who are hurting. He invites them to bring every burden into His presence, where grace is greater than guilt and mercy triumphs over shame.
Healing Begins with Honest Hope
Jennifer understood what it meant to carry invisible wounds. After her abortion, regret and sorrow followed her for years. She felt isolated, convinced that no one could understand what she had experienced. Although life moved forward, the pain remained just beneath the surface.
Everything began to change when Jennifer connected with a compassionate counselor at her local pregnancy center. Through a post-abortion recovery program, she found a safe place to speak honestly about her grief without fear of condemnation. Week by week, she began to release the guilt that had weighed her down and discovered the freedom that comes through God’s forgiveness. Instead of allowing her past to define her future, Jennifer learned to rest in Christ’s unconditional love and experience the healing only He can provide.
Her story reminds us that healing is rarely instant, but it is always possible when people encounter both the truth of the gospel and the compassion of God’s people.
The Church Is Called to Be a Place of Restoration
Care Net’s vision of Pro Abundant Life extends far beyond helping someone choose life in a moment of crisis. It means walking alongside women and men long after difficult decisions have been made, pointing them toward the abundant life Jesus promised.
Many pregnancy centers provide confidential post-abortion support through Bible studies, recovery groups, mentoring relationships, and referrals to trained counselors. These ministries offer more than emotional support—they create opportunities for people to experience the transforming grace of Jesus Christ.
The local church also has a vital role to play. Every congregation should be a place where people can bring their deepest pain without fear of rejection. When the Church reflects both biblical truth and Christlike compassion, it becomes a refuge where broken lives are restored, families are strengthened, and hope is renewed.
Perhaps you’ve never experienced abortion personally. Even so, God invites you to participate in His ministry of restoration. Pray for those carrying hidden grief. Support your local pregnancy center. Encourage your church to offer ministries that communicate both grace and truth. You may never know how God will use a simple act of compassion to help someone take their first step toward healing.
Because the gospel is not only for preventing brokenness—it is also for redeeming it.
Reflect: Is there someone in your life who may be carrying hidden pain? How can you help create a safe place where they can encounter both the truth of God’s Word and the compassion of Christ?
Prayer: Father, thank You for drawing near to the brokenhearted. Thank You that no sin is greater than Your grace and no wound is beyond Your power to heal. We pray for every woman and man carrying the pain of a past abortion. Replace shame with forgiveness, despair with hope, and isolation with the loving support of Your people. Help our churches and pregnancy centers faithfully reflect the compassion of Christ so that many would experience the abundant life found only in Him. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Find encouragement like this post, along with many more days like it, when you download Care Net’s 365 Days of Pro Abundant Life devotional. This devotional is a daily invitation to grow in your faith, understand the sanctity of life from conception, and be inspired by Christ’s promises.