in our culture we discard broken  –  in God’s kingdom, He desires broken

“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;  a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.”   (Psalm 51:17)

in our culture, broken is the end  –  in God’s kingdom, broken is the beginning

the beginning of healing, of restoration, of reconciliation – the beginning of the process whereby He makes me a new creation in Christ

when I am finally broken enough, that as the prodigal son once did, I say to myself, “I will arise and go to my Father and ask to be as one of his hired servants,”

when I am finally broken enough to invite God into the life He has given me, it is the beginning of a new life with Him  –

brokenness is not the end,  brokenness is what opens a way for a new beginning –

Jesus does not despise my brokenness; Jesus understands my brokenness, He accepts my brokenness, He has compassion on my brokenness, He can use my brokenness for His good purposes – it is in my brokenness that I am most connected to my Savior –

in my brokenness I let go of self, reach out to Him – and find that He has been waiting for me, expecting me all along –

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

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”  (Psalm 147:3)

Jesus understands and values the broken because He, Himself was broken. “But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are (I am) healed.”  (Isaiah 53:5)

Jesus shared with His disciples a lesson on brokenness.  “The Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, ‘This is my body, which is given (broken) for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’ ”  (1 Corinthians 11:24 & Luke 22:19)

Jesus knew what it was to be broken.  “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.”   (Isaiah 53:3)

In allowing Himself to be broken on that cross, on our behalf, Jesus made it possible for us to one day be made whole.  It is only through Christ’s brokenness that I am made whole.

So I can take heart knowing that my brokenness does not keep me from my Creator but rather is what draws Him near and lets Him in to do His redeeming work in me.

“But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed.”   (1 Peter 4:13)

sincerely,          Grace Day