The Power of Brokenness

John 12: 24
Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.

   Jesus laid before us the perfect example of a God centered life, teaching us how to Please God and how to do the will of God. We see that Jesus was full of faith, hope, love, gentleness, kindness, compassion and all the  fruits of the HOLY spirit. He performed miracles and wonders that glorified God. There were so many times in Jesus' life when GOD'S power was revealed and HIS name glorified. This was the "Son of God" experience of Jesus. But, this strong man of faith, this strong peaceful and kind person, cries out in the cross, "My God, My God, Why have You forsaken me?". This statement doesn't mean that Jesus lost HIS faith. He did believe the verse that says, "I will never leave you, nor forsake you".

    But when the presence of God was taken away from HIM, HE cried out as HE could no longer bear the ultimate spiritual brokenness. This was one of the instances when God allowed Jesus, to go through the "Son of Man" phase - where there is mere suffering. As glorious and wonderful the "Son of God" experiences are, because GOD'S mighty hand rests on us, equally humiliating, sorrowful and painful are the experience of "cross" where we (as a "Son of Man") are deprived of GOD'S presence - which is the worst punishment and suffering anyone could go through. Jesus had to go through this, so that the divine will of God be fulfilled. In this "Son of Man" experience, there is no faith, that can work its way out of the problem; there is no comforting, that can bring hope and peace. There is only tears. These experiences are a confirmation that we are on God's straight and narrow path, that we are following the footprints of Christ and that we are perfectly in the center of GOD'S will.

    Why does God allow these experiences? I believe that these experiences give way to GOD'S great plans to be executed, the powers of Satan to be defeated and gives way for a resurrected life that brings blessings to one and all. It is a checkpoint in our life - to let us know that we are entirely in the center of GOD'S perfect will. When we face the Gethsemanes of our lives, when there's no hope nor comfort nor peace, but only tears and blood sweats, let us cry out to God just as Jesus did; although it might seem like God is too far and is not listening, it will just be a matter of time, when we will triumph, in the battle against devil and GOD'S perfect-Will will be accomplished.

God always uses broken vessels. Vance Havner says, "God uses broken things. It takes broken soil to produce a crop, broken clouds to give rain, broken grain to give bread, broken bread to give strength. It is the broken alabaster box that gives forth perfume". It took a broken Jesus to redeem the whole world, it took a broken Joseph to feed many during the drought, it took a broken Moses to lead a nation into Canaan, it took a broken David to establish the successful nation of Israel. It took a broken Paul, to lead many into Christ. It will take a broken you and me to accomplish GOD'S will in this world today! God believes in this principle - break, bless and make it a blessing to others. That's why Jesus broke the bread, asked God to bless it and it became a blessing, satisfying thousands of people! Let us graciously accept our brokenness just like Jesus, as HE said, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done."; because God can use the broken vessels in a way we can never even imagine, for a greater victory and a greater glory! Amen.