Listen to "Broken Open" from my new mixtape https://m.soundcloud.com/jeannie-ortega-2/broken-open?in=jeannie-ortega-2/sets/road-to-31-mixtape-jeannie
I once heard this beautiful illustration, that God's word rest on our hearts but it's not until our hearts are broken that we truly allow it to seep in. That was honestly true for me- it was heartbreak, abandonment and broken dreams that led me to the foot of Jesus. Because of the cross - I knew He understood suffering and betrayal because He chose to still die for an ungrateful world - I knew He had true love and mercy and because He Rose again - I knew He wanted me to rise above my brokenness. His life became so real to me because He went through all that and still chose to call me by name.
Psalms 34:18
"The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."
Romans 8:11
"If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you."
In life, we all have the choice to either stumble or step up and out when the stones of life are thrown our way. It's a powerful thing when you are able to use your pain and turn it into power. In fact, we are not promised smooth sailing, Gods word is clear that there will be battles BUT time and time again we are told that we will overcome, if we faint not.
John 16:33
“[Jesus said] I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
1 John 5:4
"For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith."
Faith in His word is what's going to make all the difference when we feel so beat down that nothing seems to be going right. It will take faith (believing and not seeing) to truly give your brokenness to God. I knew I had to, I had tried to fill my brokenness with all kinds of junk, but all those things just led to more brokenness. When I was finally at the end of myself, God showed me He was always still there for me and I should let Him work out my sufferings for His good. Abuse didn't have to be what broke me, it could be what God would use to help many others get through their tragedy... etc... He turned all of my tests into testimonies. Since then, although it hard at times, I've decided to look at my hard times differently. I've learned that even in the hard times God is doing a new thing in my life and heart.
2 Corinthians 4:16-17
"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all."
You'd never think a crushed grape could make such fine wine but it does. Or that pruning the old tree in your yard would make it so beautiful but it does and of course, my favorite description - some people miss out on treasure because it takes a great amount of pressure to make a diamond out of dust! We are worth far more than all of those things to God and sometimes it's in the crushing, pruning and pressure that the best comes out of us.
Reflection: So when times get hard, and trust me they will whether you believe in God or not. Allow yourself to be broken, open so that true value can come from your experience.
Comments