Can Brokenness Result in Deliverance?

"We're all broken."

I uttered these words today, in the early morning hours - in a dream, actually - and then woke up with the idea of brokenness burning on my mind.  As I studied Scripture and meditated on the topic, I believe that God revealed to me three stages of brokenness. These stages are progressive, which means that moving from one stage to the next brings greater levels of healing. Because of that, we can take comfort in knowing that, regardless of our circumstances, we are never hopelessly broken. Restoration awaits!

The three stages are directly related to three types of vessels described in the Bible. II Timothy 2:20-21 likens our lives to vessels: "But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use and prepared unto every good work" (KJV). Obviously, we are being called to greater purpose, but the kind of vessel we are determines the extent to which we are useful in God's work.  What does that mean for those of us who are broken? The answer depends on the stage of brokenness you are in.

Stage One: Sinfully Broken

This is the stage at which every one of us begins. Life has a way of breaking us, doesn't it? Broken hearts. Broken dreams. Broken promises. Broken spirits. Far too early we learn the pain of brokenness. Then, in one failed attempt after another, we try to repair ourselves. We turn to other people, not realizing they are just as broken as we are and incapable of healing us.  We turn to work or entertainment, trying to distract ourselves from the brokenness. Some turn to greed and power, hardening themselves in a vain attempt to keep from being broken ever again.  Others, in desperation, turn to substances that temporarily mask the pain, but wind up shattering what remains of the broken pieces of their lives.

Brokenness, in the beginning, is the result of sin.  Whether it comes through our own sin, or the undeserved consequences of another's, all of our brokenness can be traced back to sin. God addresses this, and our inability to repair our own brokenness in Jeremiah 2:13:

 "My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water." (NIV)

Cisterns were like wells, designed to hold a reservoir of water. Some were owned by individual families; others were large enough to provide for an entire community. They were hewn into rock, which was then coated in a waterproof substance to help prevent leakage. These vessels, however, sometimes cracked, resulting in the loss of the necessary, life-giving water. The sinfully broken life is much like these broken cisterns - empty.

Our lives, too, were designed to hold a reservoir, not only for us, but also for others. However, when we try to fill these outside of Jesus Christ - the only source of living water - the result is disastrous.  At best, people will come to us and find us empty, with nothing to quench their spiritual thirst; at worst, they'll find the contents poisoned!

This is the stage of brokenness that feels most hopeless.  We keep trying to fill our lives with things society claims will make us happy, yet no matter how hard we work at it, we keep coming up empty. The only hope is to move into the next stage of brokenness.

Stage Two: Sacrificially Broken

Rarely would we consider anything broken worthy of being given as a gift. God, on the other hand, welcomes our brokenness.

"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise." - Psalm 51:17

Both Psalm 118:22 and Isaiah 28:16 compare the prophesied Messiah to a cornerstone, a sure foundation. Jesus then stated in Matthew 21:44, "And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder." Jesus Christ alone is the foundation upon which our broken lives can be rebuilt. We are already broken when we come to him. We bring the broken pieces and lay them before him as a sacrifice. Doing so is an act of humility, of laying down our own ideas and strategies - our own will - to humbly accept his. This is what makes it a sacrifice.

Why do so many find this so difficult? First, how humbling to acknowledge our inability to bring anything of worth! It requires us to swallow our pride and admit that we can't do it on our own, that our way isn't working. It requires us to admit our failure and ask for help.

Next comes the fear of rejection. What if we're too broken? What if he's not interested in repairing our mess? 

If we can push past that, then we struggle with guilt. We know we don't deserve for him to fix it. Even if much of our pain was caused by others, we know many of the broken pieces are the result of our own choices.

Finally, it requires us to lay down our pretenses. Others will see and judge. Of that we can be sure. Are we willing for all our brokenness to be exposed?  

No wonder God views this stage as a sacrifice! It essentially requires us to die to ourselves when we offer him our brokenness. But can I remind you of why it's SO WORTH IT?

In Mark chapter 14, we see a beautiful picture of what its like to be sacrificially broken. 

     "While [Jesus] was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.

     Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, 'Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year's wages and the money given to the poor.' And they rebuked her harshly.

     'Leave her alone,' said Jesus. 'Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.'" (vs. 3-9, NIV)

When our lives become vessels that are sacrificially broken, we recognize our need for Christ. Our love for him motivates us to push through the fear of rejection, the overwhelming guilt, and the pressure of the crowd.We bring what we have, knowing no matter what it cost us, it could never be enough, yet offering it anyway. We break it open before him, and pour it out, and as we do so, it becomes a fragrant offering unto him. 

Just as Jesus defended her, he will protect us. Just as he recognized what her sacrifice cost, he will appreciate the beauty in our gift too. He doesn't reject the broken vessel - he repairs it!

"He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds." Psalm 147:3 

This is a beautiful place to be. And many of us, once we have found the second stage, remain there. We know in every life situation, we can come again, bringing him our brokenness, and receiving his healing. But, as I'm just beginning to discover, there's a third stage, a level that may just change our perspective, our circumstances, and the lives of those we love.

Stage Three: Strategically Broken

Let me start this section with a disclaimer: I'm not qualified to write about this stage. The things I'm about to share with you about being strategically broken are insights I see revealed in the story of Gideon, found in Judges 6-7.  I'm still learning myself, though I hope one day to have a testimony about this stage of brokenness and experiencing the victory that comes as a result.

I believe that being strategically broken begins with a calling. Its not something you or I choose.  Rather, God calls us.  If we look at Gideon's experience, there are three things we might expect to see at the time of being called.

First, Gideon and his people were under oppression. It was a time of need; what they could harvest was stolen by their enemies. It was a time of fear - so much so, that the people were hiding in caves rather than living in houses. Second, Gideon might have been desperate, but he hadn't given up. When God called him, he was working, though in secret. Third, Gideon wasn't expecting God to call him out, and he certainly didn't feel qualified when God did. What this tells me is that when my circumstances seem at their bleakest, when I feel hopeless, overwhelmed and in need of deliverance - yet I'm persevering in spite of my insufficiency - this is exactly when I might be surprised to hear God calling me out.

Perhaps you've experienced such a calling, but you're shying away because it just doesn't make sense. That was Gideon's reaction too.  God's plan seemed too big. He called Gideon "a mighty warrior" even as Gideon was hiding like a mouse.  God said, "Go in the strength you have and save Israel..." when Gideon's circumstances suggested he didn't have strength enough to save even himself.

What do we do when God's calling seems outside the realm of possibility compared to our experience?

We offer what little we have.  Gideon's next step, after being assured that God was with him, was to give an offering.  God accepted it and confirmed his calling on Gideon's life. God then gave Gideon a task to do and he obeyed it.  He obeyed despite knowing that it could cause conflict among his family and in his community.

What do we do when God's command takes us outside of our comfort zone? We remember that brokenness isn't comfortable either.  Like resetting a bone, healing may begin with pain and discomfort. Yet which is better, to remain broken, or to begin the process of restoration?

After Gideon showed his obedience, the Spirit of the Lord came upon him. The call went out and others came to his aid.  For the first time, Gideon probably felt like he could see the Lord's plan coming together.  Maybe there would be enough people join in the battle to gain the victory!  But once again, Gideon was in for a shock, and God's plan didn't make sense. In no time at all, God took the size of Gideon's army down from 32,000 to a measly 300 men.

At this point, Gideon was sure he must be hearing wrong.  How could this possibly be God's strategy? God understood his fears, and gave him yet another confirmation of his calling:

"Get up, go down against the camp, because I am going to give it into your hands. If you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah and listen to what they are saying. Afterward, you will be encouraged to attack the camp." (Judges 7:10-11)

What Gideon heard was the enemy discussing their own fears about God granting the victory to his people!  This was just what he needed to re-kindle his faith in what God was about to do.  Gideon went back and divided the 300 men into three groups.  They took weapons that didn't seem like weapons at all. Each man had a trumpet, an empty vessel, and a torch.

Now God's plan involved a strategic breaking of the vessels each one carried. In the middle of the night, the men went and surrounded the edge of the enemy's camp. The torches were hidden inside of the vessels, allowing them to sneak up on the enemy. At Gideon's signal, they all blew their trumpets, smashed their jars, and shouted, "A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!" As the vessels were broken, the light inside of them was able to shine forth and, to the enemy, it looked like they were completely surrounded.  God caused a spirit of confusion to come over the enemy so that they destroyed themselves instead of realizing there were only 300 unconventionally-armed men.

What I'm saying is this: when you have the Spirit of God living on the inside of you, and a calling on your life, you don't have anything to fear.  Not God's plan. Not the enemy. Not even your own brokenness. God's plan may not make sense to you. The enemy may outnumber you.  The purpose for your brokenness may confuse you, but God knows how to strategically confound the enemy and win the victory.

The very brokenness that has haunted you for so long may be just the thing that God uses to let the light of his love shine out of you.  And what a light that is!  It is a light that pierces through the darkness and gives life and liberty to those living under oppression.  It is a light that turns the enemy against themselves.  It is a light that shows the world the way to Jesus!

"When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12)

When you have been strategically broken, you will no longer bemoan the loss of the vessel. Rather, like Gideon's men with their trumpets, you will be announcing God's deliverance!