Dr. Tan Tek Seng

DAILY REFLECTION
3 Sept 2026

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

Just two days ago, I wrote about YB Hannah Yeoh, reflecting on meekness from Matthew 5:5 and how we can remain faithful to our convictions while serving others with humility and grace.

Yesterday I was deeply saddened to learn that her marriage of 18 years has ended in divorce. Without knowing the private circumstances, it is neither our place to speculate nor to judge. Instead, this news reminds us that behind every public figure is a human heart, and behind every broken relationship are people who need grace, prayer and compassion.

Eighteen years of marriage represents a long journey of shared memories, dreams, joys and struggles. When such a relationship ends, the pain can be profound—not only for the couple, but also for their children and those closest to them.

Psalm 34:18 offers a beautiful promise: “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.”

The Scripture does not say God is close only when everything is going well. He draws especially near when our hearts are broken and our spirits crushed.

Separation can feel like losing more than a relationship. It may involve grieving shared dreams, familiar routines and a future once imagined together. Yet in such moments, God does not abandon us in our brokenness. He meets us there.

His presence becomes a refuge where tears need not be hidden, questions need not have immediate answers, and healing does not need to be rushed.

As fellow believers, our response to someone experiencing marital brokenness should therefore not be gossip, speculation or condemnation, but prayer, compassion and grace. We may not understand what happened behind closed doors, but we can entrust those who are hurting to the God who knows every detail.

Healing may take time. Some wounds run deep. But Psalm 34:18 assures us that a broken heart is never beyond the reach of God.

When our hearts are broken, God comes near—not always to explain everything, but to carry us through it.

May we remember YB Hannah and her family in prayer, asking God to surround them with His grace, wisdom, healing and peace.

“Our brokenness does not drive God away; it becomes a place where we can discover how near He truly is.”