BROKENNESS

Rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings,

that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy

(1 Peter 4:13).

Brokenness is not a negative word…for it is rooted in grace. Brokenness is not punishment…for all our punishment was placed on Christ on the cross. And brokenness does not require catastrophe…for many have experienced catastrophes without drawing nearer to God. Brokenness is the loving work of God as He uniquely strips each of His children of his or her self-sufficiency so that the beauty of Christ’s life shines through. Isaiah 33:17 promises that “Your eyes will see the King (Jesus) in His beauty.”

Prior to brokenness, we may have known about the many Bible verses that say Christ lives in us. However, as long as we depend on our self-sufficiency, these verses are only INFORMATION. Our own good self-efforts have no true beauty, for “all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6)…for we are acting apart from the life of Christ.

However, when God lovingly strips us of our self-sufficiency, these verses become REVELATION…our very life-line in our union with Christ!