I don’t like to be broken. In fact, for the majority of my life I’ve avoided real brokenness like the plague. I idolized and solidified the walls I set to guard my heart from any potential threat. I was my own tower of defense ready to destroy any incoming attack.
I enjoyed mapping out every detail of my life. I loved being in control of every decision and especially loved it when my own plans prospered. I loved every second of my well-protected life until I realized the blessings of brokenness.
So, what is brokenness? I’ve come to realize that brokenness is the chief end of humility. Brokenness is a life vulnerable, submitted, willing, and obedient to God. Through trial after trial, the Lord has taught me that brokenness is the prerequisite for living a life fully satisfied by Him.
Brokenness is a prerequisite for receiving God’s grace
God hates pride. Pride is an abomination. Over and over in scripture I see that God rejects the proud but gives grace to those who humble themselves. When I walk in my pride I am unable to receive God’s empowering grace that enables me to live the life He has planned for me.
Because of my pride, I have missed out on the blessings of being a child of God and serving Him. If I am not daily/hourly broken unto God, I am setting myself up for failure. If I desire to walk and be strong in the grace of God, I must first break myself before the Lord is honest prayer and confession to the fact that there is nothing good in me apart from the Lord.
Brokenness allows God to freely work in your life
When I am broken, I allow God’s Spirit to work firstly in me and then through me for His good pleasure. (See Philippians chapter 2 verse 12 to 16). If and when I continue to run back to my tower of defense I protect myself from every potential bad thing that may come but also every good thing that comes from God. When I am tempted to take back control of my life,
I need to realize that I am hindering my own prayers of, “God, please use me.” I now understand that I cannot be fully used by God without His Spirit firstly working in me.
Brokenness is the beginning of revival
In his book, “The Calvary Road” by Roy Hession, the author describes revival simply as God’s Spirit being poured fourth by broken people to the world. I love this definition of revival because through the past nine-weeks of intense ministry that I’ve recently concluded, I’m reminded that I am not the Christ.
There is only One who has the ability to save and help people: JESUS. If revival has been my deepest desire, and revival is His Spirit being poured out from broken people to the world, then I must decide to be a broken vessel.
When I decide to be broken, I walk in the footsteps of Jesus who was always submitted to the Father’s will. When I humble myself and allow God’s grace to feely reign in my life, I am a pattern of the greatest church leaders who were always about the Father’s business.
I said before that I don’t like to be broken. That’s still true to an extent, but the more I experience this life of fullness and freedom from God, the more my brokenness is a welcomed friend. I’m learning to shame my tower of defense and let the Lord by my strong fortress. I am learning that God never rejects my small and broken heart and that brokenness in the Lord’s hands is a sacrifice that He will always be pleased with.
Will you join me in brokenness? Are you tired of hardening your heart against all that God has for you? Will you climb the highest mountain of yourself and come to see that God’s grace is waiting for you there on the other side for you to enjoy? See for yourself.
Let yourself be broken before the Lord. The blessings of brokenness are yours of you would let go and let God take control. See for yourself. I can testify to the Lord’s goodness. Brokenness is a blessing.
Aaron serves in Murrieta, CA and is a pastor at Cross Culture Murrieta, instructor at Calvary Chapel Bible College in Murrieta, and is also the director of On The Edge.
Aaron Sabio’s previous articles may be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/aaron-sabio.html
Aaron Sabio lives in Oceanside LA, is a pastor at Calvary Chapel Vista in Southern California. He enjoys coffee, volleyball, and singing with his worship band, [REVO]Collective.