What is Brokenness and How Does God Use it For His Glory?
What’s Inside: What is Brokenness and How Does God Use it For His Glory?
Are you broken? If you’re reading this, chances are that you are broken in your christian life or once were broken and in a time of need.
Are you lying on the ground, looking up at the heavens with no one to turn to or no where to go?
I know Sweet Sister. I’ve been there and am there at this very moment. That’s why I’m writing this article.
Being broken before God isn’t easy. It’s a time of deep soul searching, leaning not to our own understanding and allowing God’s truth to permeate the darkness of the world that has surrounded us.
We live in a broken world full of people filled with the deepest need of the soul. They might look all put together on the outside, but the truth is that the woman who seems like she has it all together is hiding her emotional pain.
Anguish of heart permeates our life by either outward circumstances or from the result of sin.
I will be telling you my personal story of brokenness in a future blog post, but for now let’s grab the secular dictionary definition of brokenness together.
I think it will help you like it has me.
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What is Brokenness?
The Free Dictionary defines the word brokenness as:
- forcibly separated into two pieces
- torn apart by divorce, separation, or desertion of parents
- to have been violated
- incomplete
- subdued totally
- incomplete
- crushed by grief
What is Brokeness in the Bible?
What is Brokenness in the Bible?
I’m going to say something that might be a difficult pill to swallow. If you are a follower of Jesus, you cannot escape the heart wrenching experience of being broken before God. There will be some time in your life where you will be broken before the Lord.
Brokeness is the condition of being so crushed by inward or outward circumstances and having no other place to turn to but to God.
Trials rain upon those that are in Christ and outside of Christ. We are not exempt.
The Cause of Being Broken Before God
What does it mean to be broken before God?
Brokenness can’t be easily broad brushed with one simple definition. You can’t fit those heavy burdens of great suffering into a box because they will be different for each person. For some, brokenness comes as a result of their sin. For others it might be death, physical hardship, illness, disability, grieving over loved ones who have died, abuse, or losing everything in life. Being broken spiritually before the Lord is being compressed and squeezed by outward circumstances or by sin.
Examples of Brokeness Before God in the Bible
There are so many biblical examples of broken lives mentioned in the Bible and they are there intentionally for us to learn from.
I’ve chosen those that speak to me. I am sure you can find many more to add to this list below.
The broken life of David
(read about David’s sin HERE and his prayer of spiritual brokenness HERE.)
One of the most poignant examples of being broken before the Lord was King David. Even though he was a man after God’s heart, he had committed egregious sins that revealed his true nature before God.
His sin was staring him in the face and there was nothing for him to do but humble himself before God in submission.
David not only committed adultery with Bathsheba, he tried to cover up his sexual sin by sending Bathsheba’s husband home to spend time with his wife. Why? To cover up the pregnancy that resulted from his sin.
When that didn’t work, he sent Uriah into the heaviest part of the battle so that he would be killed.
David’s Brokeness: Adultery. Deception. Conspiracy. Murder.
David’s grief over his sin was swallowing him up and in that brokenness he penned the words of Psalm 51 and asked God to create a new heart within him and to renew a right spirit within him. Psalm 51 was one of the most beautiful examples of restoration and beauty in the broken.
The Broken Life of Peter
Another incidence in the Bible of brokenness is that of Peter.
Peter was told that he was going to betray the Lord even before the rooster had crowed three times. Peter could have humbled himself at that very moment but instead decided to deny the truth of what Jesus spoke. Check out Mark 14:66-72.
Matthew 26:34-35 Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.
Peter denied the Lord Jesus. Can you imagine the horrible guilt that he felt of not standing up for the Lord and also for cursing his Saviour in front of those who said He was a follower of the Lord?
When Peter left the courtyard where he denied the Lord Jesus, the Bible says that he wept bitterly. Peter was a broken man before the Lord.
Peter’s Brokenness: Betrayal. Denial. Cursing. Guilt.
The Broken Life of Jesus
The Ultimate account of brokenness can be found in our Saviour,Jesus. (Matt. 26:36-56)
All of the accounts mentioned above are caused by sin of the broken hearted, but the brokenness of Jesus was due to no cause of His own. Jesus was sinless.
As he prayed in the garden of Gethsemane, he was sorrowful and full of heaviness. He knew that his life would be required as the final sacrifice for sin. He was God but he yielded himself to go to the cross so we could gain eternal life. That’s you and I, Sister.
There are so many other Bible accounts in the Bible that can open our eyes to the spirit of true brokenness. The apostle Paul comes to mind.
In all of the accounts mentioned above. brokenness is caused by sin of the broken hearted, but the brokenness of Jesus was due to no cause of His own.
As he prayed in the garden of Gethsemane, he was sorrowful and full of heaviness. He knew that his life would be required as the final sacrifice for sin. He was God and He was sinless but he yielded himself to go to the cross so we could gain eternal life.
When Jesus hung on the cross, the beauty of brokenness was on full display.
Jesus’ Brokenness: Nothing. His brokenness was because of us.
When Jesus hung on the cross, the beauty of brokenness was on full display.
What are the Characteristics of Brokeness?
As mentioned in the above accounts, real brokenness will manifest itself differently from person to person.
David was full of regret and mental torment. His surrender to God was one of the reasons why he was called a man after god’s own heart in the Bible.
After Peter had denied the Lord, the Bible says that he wept bitterly. God took Peter’s state of surrender coupled with his repentant heart and restored Peter to where he was an apostle of the faith.
When the Lord Jesus Christ knew that he would be accomplishing the will of his father by giving His own life, he prayed in the garden of Gethsemane and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.
This condition was called hematohydrosis. This rare medical condition only occurs in situations of great stress, strain, or exertion. Imagine your Saviour so heavy laden that He was sweating blood not for His own sin, but for yours and mine.
Are you Spiritually Broken?
There are many characteristics of brokenness as we can see in the biblical examples of brokenness in the lives of King David, the Apostle Peter, Judas Iscariot and even Jesus.
Are you crushed under the weight of desperation and grief by outward circumstances? Is your heart fractured because of choices you have made by choosing sin?
What is the Biblical Meaning of Brokeness?
When we come to God, he iw a purifier of those who seek Him.
We have two choices in life when we are experiencing brokenness, sweet Sister. We can either resist it or yield to it. Resisting the trials that can bring us closer to God will only make us resent God and pull away from Him. It will only take us further from god’s heart When we yield to the brokenness and cry out to God for help, God is molding us into a vessel that is fit for His use.
Rest assured, God will use your broken heart as a tool for His glory.
Rest assured, God will use your broken heart as a tool for His glory.
The Skill of Kintsugi and Brokenness
Have you ever heard of the process called Kintsugi?
Kintsugi is the Japanese word translated as “golden joinery” or “golden repair”. When Japanese pottery was broken, it was never thrown away. The pottery was mended back together again by combining lacquer and powdered gold.
Instead of throwing the seemingly useless dish away, the brokenness of the dish remains as part of the history of the dish.
Did you read that, Sweet Sister? The brokeness REMAINS PART OF THE HISTORY!
Your brokenness of spirit, while walking the broken way, will be used by God’s power. And not only that. God isn’t going to hastily spackle up the cracks with a temporary solution that will fail in the future.
With kintsugi, your personal brokenness will be filled with GOLD and the hope of the glory of God.
God will NEVER waste your brokenness!
God Will Use Your Brokenness for Growth in Christ
Brokenness can yield beautiful fruit in our lives as we turn the focus on our will being done to His will being done.
The only place we should turn to in our brokenness is to the Lord. When you hold your heartache in your hands, you risk becoming bitter towards the Lord.
Brokeness results in humility, a contrite heart and true repentance.
Brokeness results in humility, a contrite heart and true repentance.
Being broken before the Lord gives us an outlook that there is a greater purpose for this life.
Suffering.
As Christ hung on the cross in pain and agony for the redemption of mankind, God will use your suffering to bring Him glory. God will use your story so others can see God working through your weakness.
Scriptures about Being Broken
Ezekiel 34:16 I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment.
Psalm 147:3 He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.
Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Psalm 34:18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
Isaiah 65:14 Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit.
Also read the entirety of Psalm 51.
God Heals the Broken Hearted- there is HOPE!
How can we heal our broken spirit, sweet Sister? I wish I could say there was an easy solution.
Sometimes God puts an end to our suffering and we come through our battle victoriously with an instantaneous healing. Other times, like the lady who had an issue of blood for 12 long years, she had to wait for God’s perfect timing.
One thing is sure.
Whether we are healed instantly or have to endure, God works His divine will in our lives and He will be glorified.
As stated in Isaiah 61:3 , God will give us beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.
God knows exactly what we have need of.
Isaiah 61:3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.
When Jeremiah was mourning the siege of Israel by the Babylonians, he asked two questions:
Is there a Balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there?
Jeremiah 8:22-23 For the hurt of the daughter of my people I am hurt. I am mourning; Astonishment has taken hold of me. Is there no balm in Gilead, Is there no physician there? Why then is there no recovery For the health of the daughter of my people?
Jesus is the healing ointment that we can apply to the brokenness of our soul.
There IS a balm in Gilead. Jesus is the healing ointment that we can apply to the brokenness of our soul.
I have one last Scripture for you, Sis.
Psalm 30:5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life:
weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
Hold on, Sis! God is going to get the glory from your brokenness. Your weeping may endure for a moment, but joy comes in the morning!
During this season of brokenness. I’d like to pray for you!
Lord God, we come before mired in our own brokenness. You never promised us an easy or painless life, but you have promised to purify our heart to be more like you. We lay our heartaches before you. We give you the pieces of our broken marriage. We simply lay down the messy life that we have made and stand before you as a broken person in need of your grace. Help us not to resist in pride but to be of humble spirit. Anoint us with your oil of gladness and help us to trust that you really do work all things together for your good. Take my broken life Lord. I give it to you.
In Jesus name, Amen.
I’ll be continuing in prayer for you, Sis!
