A Bridge of Hope for Those Crushed in Spirit

As part of our 40 Days of Hope Lenten calendar, we asked various supporters in our network to share reflections on why they pray, serve, or give. www.hfny.org/lent

“The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” —Psalm 34:18

Have you ever felt like life just pushed you into the ground? Where circumstances were so overwhelming, you not only fall, but you feel crushed under the weight of it all? I have. In 2020, there was a war against my homeland of Armenia, where our neighbors (Azerbaijan and Turkey) attacked Artsakh, a region that was historically Armenian for thousands of years. We prayed, fasted, believed, and cried out for help. None came, or at least not as we had hoped. We lost that war, and Armenians had to flee their homes, churches, monasteries, farmlands… all that they knew. Having family and friends in Armenia, it was devastating. It was genocide all over again, and the world just walked on by. As the Psalmist says, I felt “brokenhearted” and “crushed in spirit” and I entered a season of profound numbness.

If you have lived in NYC for any significant amount of time, I’m sure you can relate to experiences in life that just knock you out. Such experiences can feel unbearable. As hard as that season in 2020 was for me, it could have been worse. I was deeply grateful, despite the circumstances, that I still had food, shelter, a good job, and a family that loved me. I cannot imagine walking through that time without some or all of those things.

When reflecting on the neighbors in need in our city, I can imagine many have gone through crushing experiences. The stories are endless… the loss of a job, abusive relationships, the passing away of a loved one, or even some measure of betrayal. I remember one neighbor in need I met in Murray Hill that I'll call John. He and his buddy were selling books out of a shopping cart, and their small business was doing quite well. Once over a meal, he shared with me his dream: save enough money to get off the streets, and see his son and two daughters again in upstate New York. Despite his circumstances, there was such a sparkle, a fire in his eyes as he talked about taking life by the horns with his all. But the joy that came through him when he spoke of his kids was special. Time passed, things were going very well, and John’s dreams were in sight. One day the unthinkable happened. John’s buddy disappeared with the books and all the cash, and so did John’s dream. He was devastated, and crushed. Then, he just disappeared.

One year later, providence guided me to John again. I was leaving an event celebrating the work of The Salvation Army when I saw him on the corner of 8th and 43rd. My heart was so happy to know he was alive. But was he? He looked like he had aged so much, and there was a coldness, a numbness to him… only a faint glimmer of the light he once shined. I engaged with him as he was fumbling through the trash cans. At one point in the conversation, I saw it… there was just the slightest smile that came through his weathered face. Somewhere in John, there was a flicker… a tiny part of him was still holding on.

The prophet Isaiah spoke of our coming Messiah when he states, "A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth” (Isaiah 42:3-4a). By the world’s standards, a bruised reed and smoldering wick are useless, and cast aside. But not to God. He remembers the beauty of that vibrant reed or bright flame, and the injustice that almost destroyed them. The injustice we see on our NYC streets and world is immense. So much hurt, and need. But behind every weathered face is a story. One with hopes and dreams, and a longing for the injustice in their lives to be made right. Isaiah’s verse gives me such hope that Jesus’s mission was just that, to “bring forth justice” to those with the faintest hope, and how He will not stop until it is established and complete on the earth.

I encourage you all to think through the past few weeks and reflect upon anyone in need in your life. These could be neighbors without a home, or anyone else who’s struggling in some way. Ask God to give you eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart to understand. Maybe these neighbors are just barely holding on and need a bit of encouragement today. You can be an extension of Christ, a bridge of hope for those crushed in spirit. God used people in my life to be that bridge of hope after the events in Armenia. For John, I believe God used me to offer a bit of encouragement to still hold on, hope again, and look to Jesus. Who has God called you to be bridge of hope today?

Obed Bazikian is the Mercy Ministry Manager at Redeemer Downtown.