“The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart,
And saves such as have a contrite spirit.”
— Psalm 34:18

There are stories in Scripture that are painful to read.
Stories that don’t wrap up neatly.
Stories that leave us longing for justice, for comfort, for healing.

Tamar’s story in 2 Samuel 13 is one of them.

She was the daughter of King David, a young woman of beauty and innocence. But she became the victim of a horrible deception and a terrible crime—raped by her half-brother Amnon, a man driven by obsession and enabled by poor counsel and unchecked desire.

Tamar begged for mercy.
She even offered Amnon a way forward that would have restored honor.
But he refused—and after the assault, he did what many abusers do: he cast her aside in shame and anger.

Scripture tells us that Tamar “lived in her brother Absalom’s house, desolate.”
Her father, David, though angry, did nothing.

Her pain was deep.
Her support was weak.
Her voice was silenced.
And the injustice led to long-standing bitterness and vengeance from her brother Absalom, who would later kill Amnon.

The Tragedy of a Desolate Life

Tamar’s story is heartbreaking.
Not only because of what happened to her—but because of what didn’t happen after.

No healing.
No restoration.
No voice.

Her grief is preserved in Scripture not as a passing detail, but as a sobering reminder of how sin shatters lives—and how silence and inaction compound the pain.

We don’t know how Tamar’s relationship with God unfolded.
Scripture doesn’t tell us whether she found comfort, hope, or peace.
But we know this: God saw her.

And He sees us, too.

When People Fail, God Remains

People hurt us.
They disappoint us.
They fail to protect, to defend, to acknowledge.

Sometimes we look around, like Tamar must have, and feel completely alone.

But we are not.

“The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart.”
— Psalm 34:18

God doesn’t abandon the brokenhearted.
He doesn’t look away from abuse.
He doesn’t minimize our pain.
He draws near.

And for the believer, that nearness isn’t just a comfort—it becomes a source of strength.

Trials Come, But So Does Joy

As painful as trials are, they hold the potential to transform us—not by the weight of the suffering, but by the grace that meets us in it.

“Count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.”
— James 1:2–3

“You have been grieved by various trials,
that the genuineness of your faith… may be found to praise, honor, and glory
at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
— 1 Peter 1:6–7

These trials—whether brought on by others’ sin or the brokenness of the world—are not wasted.

They are tools in the hands of a loving God who is shaping us, refining us, and conforming us to the image of Christ.

The Good That God Promises

Romans 8:28 is often quoted, but verse 29 holds the key:

“And we know that all things work together for good
to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son…”

The “good” is not always comfort or resolution.
The good is that we are being shaped to look more like Jesus.

Even through heartbreak.
Even through injustice.
Even through desolation.

A Final Word

Tamar’s story reminds us that pain is real—and not every story ends with earthly restoration.
But Scripture also reminds us that God is not done writing our story when we are hurting.

He draws near.
He sees.
He saves.

And He works, even through the ashes, to form something new.

So if you are walking through grief, injustice, or heartbreak—know this:

You are not alone.
God is close.
And He will not waste your pain.