Being Broken

The difficulty of being broken, of course, is that you don’t work.

It doesn’t sit well with us.

We who like to be independent.

We who like to be responsible.

We who like to take care of others.

When you are broken, you need someone or something to help you. You can’t do it by yourself. You are weak. Vulnerable.

And yet.

God speaks much about our brokenness and weakness.

It doesn’t surprise him. In fact, quite the opposite. He wants to use our very brokenness, our very weakness for His glory.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
    a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. ~ Psalm 51:17

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
    and saves the crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18

So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. ~ 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

We the church are not wonderful because we are made of special, elite, super wonderful people.

We the church are the redeemed. Those who have been brought up from the pit. Those who have been healed, saved, forgiven.

We are only strong because of Jesus.

And when others look at us, they shouldn’t be marveling at our great strength or our great character, at the way we can “get things done” or how wonderful our programs are or how “well” we cope (or don’t cope) with what life hands us.

They should be able to look at us and see Christ who made us strong. Christ who covered the broken parts. Christ who healed the inward heart.

The Christ who continually, gently, lovingly takes my broken pieces and grants healing, no matter why or how I am broken.

The Christ who can help you too.

Will you let him?