We hear many sermons telling us that as followers of Jesus Christ (Yeshua), we should be prosperous. We are often told or hear others say that we should ask God to give us material things. This commentary is not speaking against anyone being blessed with what the world considers wealth or prosperity. These blessings are given so that we can bless others.
Sometimes we find circumstances in our lives change and suddenly our lives might be upside down, inside out, and everything seems to be falling to pieces around us. But hold on and keep reading. This message is for someone in particular, probably many. And this is a message of encouragement in a day when we all feel pressure mounting in many ways.
This world is under the control of the adversary. God allows this. The things we see such as the breakdown of the family unit, divorce, adultery, are not surprising and probably should be expected from those walking after the flesh. But too frequently, we see the same problems in the Body of Christ.
Lately, we frequently see those who have dedicated their lives to Jesus Christ, those who have lived for Him and not for themselves, who live a fully-surrendered life to Him, those who have served others, those walking that narrow path, those who have forsaken the world and who are spending time in The Word of God, those facing circumstances such as losing their homes, jobs, or perhaps their families turn from them. This goes against what the “prosperity” gospel teaches. But does it go against The Word of God?
There are Christians reading this, who are serious about serving the Lord and are born-again, Spirit- filled, walking the walk not just talking the talk Believers; but they find themselves broken. Brokenness means something that was whole has been taken apart. One Dictionary defines the word broken, used as a noun in the following way:
an act or instance of breaking; disruption or separation of parts; fracture; rupture:
an interruption of continuity; departure from or rupture with: shattered, crushed.
What does it mean to be broken as a Christian? How might one respond to such circumstances? Many might respond by becoming angry with God. They might say things such as, “God, I have given you my life and my heart. Yet I find myself in these trials. I am broken. Why?”
Sometimes this isn’t economic, but may be broken relationships or health problems. When tragic things leave us more than wounded and sad and we can’t understand these things, we seek answers from God so that we might understand. Many times we hear of broken marriages due to various circumstances. This can also cause those experiencing these things to ask, “What did I do? Why did this happen.” Brokenness means disruption. This can crush our spirit. We might feel ruined and we may feel like we have failed.
Hear what The Word of Almighty God has to say on this very subject.
“They are destroyed from morning to evening: they perish for ever without any regarding it.” Job 4:20
“My breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves are ready for me.” Job 17:1
“My days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart.” Job 17:11
We read these scriptures from the Book of Job and we see that he is expressing the feeling that his life is of no regard to others. He feels that his best days are behind him. He is ready to die because his days are done, he has no purpose. This is how Job felt. How many reading this have felt this way?
“A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.” Proverbs 15:13.
“A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.” Proverbs 17:22
We can’t have any dry bones! But this is exactly the message above in which the Book of Proverbs tells us how a broken spirit can affect us.
“The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit, who can hear?” Proverbs 18:14.
“I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel.” Psalm 31:12.
We see from the scriptures above that a person who needs the comfort of someone because of a wounded spirit may not find many who will want to listen. Where is someone to hear us? We feel forgotten, irrelevant. The saying, “Out of sight, out of mind” might fit in here. We feel like we are a broken vessel that no longer has any use. Where are our friends to comfort us? Perhaps we need those who have despised us to have pity on us, but none comes. Our hearts are broken and no one seems to understand, nor do they want to hear us out. But, like King David, there are none. But, take heart brothers and sisters, never forget who your Heavenly Father is!
“The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.” Psalm 34:18.
“Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy.” Psalm 33:18.
Like King David, how many of us feel if just one more thing happens we couldn’t bear it? We feel that we are beyond able to comprehend our situation; unable to bear another day. A broken heart, a heaviness is upon us. How many reading this have experienced this?
“Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.” Psalm 51:8.
“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” Psalm 51: 17.
“O God, thou hast cast us off, thou hast scattered us, thou hast been displeased; O turn thyself to us again.” Psalm 60:1.
Some of us realize it was the LORD Himself who allowed this. We ask Him to restore us. We probably don’t understand the why of all of this but we must remember His promises! He is true and faithful.
Have you noticed you are among the most honored, even King David? If you are relating to any of this, you are among them. David was honored in the sight of the Lord. He was anointed of the Lord. Look at Job and his situation. But, he was righteous among all men on the earth! They too experienced these things.
“Why hast thou then broken down her hedges, so that all they which pass by the way do pluck her?” Psalm 80:12. We might ask, “Why have you allowed a gap in our divine protection? Why do You allow people to mock us?” Perhaps we even hear others say things such as, “Where is his/her God now? Look at them, they are broken, done; and their God isn’t helping them!”
Oh, but no brothers and sisters! Keep reading because this is not meant to depress, discourage or cause doubt in those reading it. This is a message of hope and of ultimate victory.
“Come, and let us return unto the Lord: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. After two days, he will revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.” Hosea 6:1-2. This doesn’t say he might heal us, nor that he might bind us up, nor that he might revive us. This says that He will do all these things! This is shouting time brethren! Because our Father is not a liar.
Look at what Job tells us: “For he matheth sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands make whole.” Job 5:18. If we read further in this chapter of Job, we see that it just gets better. See how this passage of scripture fits perfectly with Hosea 6:1-2? We are told to hang on, He has got everything covered.
For one who is feeling severely broken, they may feel so overwhelmed that the very thought that God has actually allowed this is unbearable. How could this be? This, from our God we have bowed before; who has torn, stricken and broken us? That may be the icing on the cake for many. So you may think.
If you are the Christian that is broken, the one spoken of here who has forsaken all for Him, it is not Satan doing this to you, it is God. This is so very powerful, please follow me here. He knows what He is doing in our lives. The Lord is ministering to us and we just can’t see the end. Brothers and Sisters, be at peace, knowing that it is not the enemy who is doing this. Please do not confuse this to mean the adversary doesn’t walk around seeking who he may devour. No, he does do that. And he would love to devour us! But that isn’t going to happen because we won’t take off our armor. This addresses circumstances that are not of the adversary. Whoever heard of a broken Christian?
Where is God in all of this? We can’t hear Him. We can’t feel His presence, we need Him more than ever before and where is He? This commentary bears witness that He has told this writer, “I am tearing you. I am doing it.” That doesn’t sound like the loving God that some speak of, but it is. It is because of His love that this has or may happen. This is a shared testimony to others who may be experiencing these things at this very time or perhaps in the future. This is encouragement for my brethren.
He has torn, but He will heal us. That is a promise! It is a relief. It brings rest even now to know that
our Father is in control and these things are in His Hand. This brokenness could be in many forms. This message is not for the sinner, it is not for the ungodly. Know this, as a Christian, something has happened and we may not understand. “What is this? Why has He allowed this?”, we may ask. But we know He says He has torn but He will heal us.
But why would He allow this to happen? We are walking in the valley of the shadow of death! But know this, He said He has torn but He will bind up; after two days He will revive us and on the third day He will raise us up so that we will live in His sight forever. That’s great and wonderful but what about now?
The fully surrendered Christian, who has given complete authority of his or her life over to Jesus Christ, is saying to us if something or someone has caused a brokenness within us such as a break in our marriage or family life, health; it very well could be because it is only made complete in the process of being broken. Read it again if you missed it. We may have been completely faithful, but this major thing happening is only because we are made complete in the process of being broken. We know we are on a journey. The Lord says that He who has begun a good work in us will complete it unto the day of Jesus Christ. This means it is an ongoing work.
Just as we finally get a victory, a peace; in our walk, life, with marriage, something changes it all. Know this: it is being made complete in that process of brokenness. If you are a born-again, Spirit filled Believer, there is completion being made. This is only so it can be made whole. It’s going to hurt, we didn’t expect it, it is only because in our weakness when we must look to Him and lean upon Him that He is made strong. He completes us. It was never complete to begin with but we are at a place where He can trust us with the circumstances. Finally, a completion can come. It is very rare that a Believer can actually get to a place where they can be broken, so that they could be made whole. If you are among that rarity in the Body of Christ where you are fit for brokenness, then hallelujah! This could make it whole. In the brokenness, restoration is being made.
This is extremely rare when a precious son or daughter of the Most High can get to a place of maturity in their walk so that God can do this. But this is a fact. What now? Be at peace. He has got you, He has all things lined up. You will be more powerful in Him because of this. His anointing will be more powerful upon you, because of this very thing that is causing so much heartbreak. Be not afraid, do not fear. He has got everything under control because He has plans for you. He trusts your walk and faith in Him enough to allow you to walk through the fire that purifies and cleanses. This also strengthens us to be used of Him. Rejoice in the hard times. If we only rejoice in the good times, what does that say of our relationship with Him? No, rejoice! Thank God that you are experiencing these things. Thank Him because you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that He has all things planned from beginning to end and He knows what He is doing, even when you do not.
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