Broken

Broken

 

 

 

‭Psalms 34:17-20 NKJV‬

[17] The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles. [18] The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit. [19] Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all. [20] He guards all his bones; Not one of them is broken.

 

Brokenness sometimes has to happen.

Most people don’t necessarily look for it.

Most people don’t expect it.

I believe that all that have experienced it definitely didn’t welcome it.

In our brokenness the Lord allows it.

As painful as it might be.

But the beauty about the mercy of God is He won’t leave you there.

The Lord breaks us down to a point where He builds us back up.

 

Brokenness is the place we’re the Lord truly gets our attention.

Maybe we have steered away. Maybe there’s things that we have done that we didn’t think were harmful to ourselves or others.

Regardless of the persistence of an outsider to make you see differently.

Out of desperation or despair.

 

Sometimes it is a head to head crash!

 

Sometimes the Lord will give us a glimpse of what life would be like if we continue on that same dangerous path.

There may be warning after warning but we may not see them. Part of the brokenness is we refuse to see that there’s anything wrong.

 

Then things change fast and you may find yourself in a situation that you never would or could have ever thought was possible.

 

 

‭‭Psalms 23:3-4 NKJV‬

[3] He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. [4] Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

 

 

 

 

But praise God for His love and tender mercy! Even though we may step off the path of Righteousness and hardships come, Jesus is there!

When we stumble from the mountain tops into the desperate lonely Valley, Jesus is there!

When things are out of control and there seems like there’s no way out, He offers His mighty hand to grasp.

 

Imagine the brokenness of the righteous man Job.

Not knowing. Not deserving.

But it was His faith that kept him going.

The turmoil of the wrenching of his heart I’m sure was unbearable.

The deep seeded heartache and sorrow.

But Job declares that even though he must walk alone through the same valley of death and brokenness he has to remind himself that His God is near!

 

There was nothing Job was able to control.

He didn’t have the power to return what had been taken. In his pain and sorrow he remembered that God was still available.

Sometimes we have to develop a Job mentality.

‭Job 13:15 NKJV‬

[15] Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.

 

Even from the brokenness of our hearts and the desperation of our thoughts, we must declare that we will trust Him!

Oh how easy it is to trust Jesus in the Good times of life.

But a true testimony of faith is when we are desperate and the only thing we have is our faith.

We can not change what has already happened. We don’t know what tomorrow brings, but right here and right now we must make a bold decision to trust in the Faithfulness of Jesus.

 

Maybe Jesus doesn’t miraculously make things better or different. It’s not because He can’t or won’t do it.

We all cry out in desperation for a change or a shift to see His Goodness.

 

Maybe Jesus is answering your prayers in a way that can be more effective in your personal situation.

Maybe the Lord is answering your prayer through another person that He has prepared to help your situation.

Perhaps He is making a way when it seems like there is no way.

Maybe the Lord wants to point us in the right direction but the fear and desperation are so strong and intimidating we may not even know where to start.

 

Job starts with one proclamation from His heart.

 

Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.

 

How many times has the Lord brought you through from the clutches of evil and death! How many times has He saved you!

When you were prompted in your soul to turn left instead of right, what even in that did He save you from.

The tug on your heart to not step in this building or walk out of that one.

Sometimes a flat tire in the morning on the way to work can be the Protective Hand of God at work in your life to protect us from brokenness.

 

Those were times of God’s faithfulness!

 

 

There was nothing that Job was able to do to bring back what was taken. There was nothing that was going to fill the broken emptiness of his heart.

The only thing that would get Job through was the faith and trust in the faithfulness and trustworthiness of our God!

 

Job had a small request.

 

‭Job 13:20-21, NKJV‬

[20] “Only two things do not do to me, Then I will not hide myself from You: [21] Withdraw Your hand far from me, And let not the dread of You make me afraid.

 

I believe this is the same type of desperation that King David cried out.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

 

It was the rod and staff of God that brought David comfort.

For Job, I believe, it was knowing that even through it all God was still there.

Knowing the strong and faithful Hand of God was there to hold Him up.

It was there to steer and guide him.

His Holy hand was there to protect and shield.

And His hand was there to comfort and console Job in the brokenness.

 

 

Unfortunately we will all at some point have to face things that we don’t necessarily want to.

We will all go through trial and tribulation that will lead to brokenness of heart.

Relationships will be shattered. Maybe loss of work.

Maybe loss of health. There may be mistakes and misunderstandings that lead to something that’s so much bigger than you ever imagined.

We may feel desperate, lonely, worn and tired.

 

Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him!

 

He has never given me reason to not trust Him. The Lord has always been faithful and always will be.

That’s what brings me comfort in brokenness.

 

Pastor Ed