The grammar nerd in me has to point out that it should read “when you’re out of options.” I just had to throw that in there.

But when it comes to worship out of abandonment and brokenness, I thankfully can’t say that I’ve had much experience. I’ve known times when I feel my own sinfulness more keenly and when my weakness is staring me in the face. I’ve had those moments when I most deeply feel my need of God.

Those times are when the prayers flow out of me. That’s when my requests and petitions stop being polite and start being real, to borrow a phrase from the old MTV reality shows back in the 90s.

Some of you reading this know far more about praying from a broken heart and from a place of abandonment. You truly know what it’s like to be alone. You know what it’s like to have nothing but Jesus and nowhere to look but up.

But the Bible says “The Lord is near to the broken-hearted and saves the crushed in spirit “(Psalm 34:18, ESV).

That’s not a feel-good sentiment. That’s a promise.

God is faithful. God knows what it’s like to experience the very worst that humanity can do to you and knows the very depth of suffering like no one else. Jesus was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief (Isaiah 53:3, ESV).

Sometimes all we have are our tears and sighs. Those are just as acceptable in the eyes of God as the most eloquent prayers ever offered up by any preacher from any pulpit on any given Sunday. They are beautiful to God.