He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake (Psalm 23:3).
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18).
For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite” (Isaiah 57:15).
Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all (Psalm 34:19).
Where There Is Jesus There Is Peace
Have you ever noticed when you are in a difficult season in your life, you resort back to your old ways? Maybe some of these ways are coping mechanisms that have you lean on your own knowledge and strength (Proverbs 3:5-6).
In reality, you are only delaying the obvious, and that is repeating the same cycle that you have been in for so long. Or you simply search for answers for the situation that you are currently involved in.
Either way, brokenness is a place where God can come into your life and lead you into His strength and His understanding. God most certainly is leading you to Himself. How can we operate daily without Him? I am sure you know how that goes.
Jesus never promised us peace in this life, He only promises peace that he can give you whether you are happy or sad, struggling or thriving.
In James 1:2-4, the Bible says to “count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
So, while we are in these trials and struggles, we are to find joy in them. Now, does that seem impossible to attain? You may think, “Why should I find joy in my struggle?”
What purpose is there for me to be experiencing and enduring this situation that has only caused me pain? Well, the Bible says in Romans 5:1-5 that:
Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. We have also obtained access through Him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Jesus also says in John 14:6, “‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’”
Therefore, is your brokenness leading to Christ? Or is it leading you astray? Oftentimes we come back to old ways because of shame, guilt, and even anger because that is what our flesh desires to do. God can’t restore if you are not willing to let the shepherd take care of you (Psalm 23). Now, this isn't to beat you down or degrade what you may be feeling.
But it is to refocus you on the path that God has for you (Matthew 18:12-14). Also, it may be that God has taken away something or someone. That pain drives deep into the heart, and anger and questions arise. You may never know why these things happen but know that God has a plan for all broken circumstances.
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39).
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too (2 Corinthians 1:3-5).
Draw Near to God
The one who lives under the protection of the Most High, dwells in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust (Psalm 91:1-2).
Drawing near to God is not easy, nor is it easy when your brokenness becomes louder than the truth. Sometimes God uses the brokenness to draw you close to Him (John 6:44). But the most important thing out of all of this is to know God's love for you.
In our brokenness, we may hear that we aren't enough, not worthy, abandoned, betrayed, and many more lies the enemy spews out into your mind. You are enough, worthy, loved, secured, and restored to God.
Jesus says in John 10:9-11, and I quote: “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
There is no greater love than what Jesus did. You see God has already restored our souls by the sacrifice of His Son Jesus. Our brokenness in this world is only temporary. It does not define who we are or what we will become.
We are defined as God's children whom He loves enough to sacrifice His Son for our sins. So, do not be afraid of the brokenness you are currently feeling. God's love has already covered it.
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39).
A Closing Prayer
Father, you are glorified in all. You, God, are honored among nations and tribes. Father, you deserve all glory and all of us. I pray for those who are downtrodden in their brokenness because you, God, can restore all that was lost. You, God, will bring those lost to you.
God, we love you and we thank you for your glorious Word. I thank you, God, for showing us that our brokenness is not a sign of weakness but of strength in you God. In Jesus' name, Amen.
For further reading:
7 Healing Prayers for When Your Heart Is Broken
5 Encouraging Verses for When You Experience Grief
Will the God of Hope Fill Us with Joy and Peace?
Why Does the Christian Life Lead to Suffering?
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/CandyRetriever
Rebecca Mashburn (Gordon) has a wonderful husband named Joseph. She has a blog, Trust. Lean, Seek and is working on becoming what God is calling her to. She has a bachelor's in psychology and hopes to one day pursue a degree in biblical counseling. Rebecca loves to be in nature, especially in springtime, and she loves to travel. She has a loving family and hopes one day to have children of her own.
