Devotionals for the Heart: Brokenness

Brokenness

A devotional by Nanci Rubin

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord."
–Luke 4:18-19 (KJV) 

Most of us at some juncture in our lives have gone through or will go through a crisis, a time of bitter disappointment and rejection. Those are the times when we cling to our friends, family and appreciate the support they give us via love, prayer and standing in the gap until we are over this season of disappointment.

But there are occasions when we face catastrophic events. Events that leave us broken. 

Those times are painful, so painful that it hurts to breathe, you don’t want to get out of bed or see anyone. When we are broken, we are irreparable and can no longer be used. That’s the way it feels and you don’t care. The world can go on without you, all you want is to be left alone because in your eyes, it’s over. And this can be a dangerous time spiritually if we isolate ourselves.

The enemy of our souls wants nothing more than to get us away from the Body of Christ (our church family), distract us from prayer and hope to have us blame God for the horrendous pain we are experiencing. Job’s friends and his wife tried to get him to turn against God. 

They even suggested that Job's plight was his fault, that he must have sinned. No, one doesn’t have to be in sin to have one’s world fall apart.

“In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.” –Job 1:22 (KJV)

We live in such a disposable world. When something breaks, we just toss it out and replace it. Unfortunately, many hurting people believe this is their fate when they have been broken. But Jesus said in Luke 4:18-19 that He came to heal the brokenhearted. God has anointed His Son Jesus Christ to heal those of us suffering in brokenness.

Romans 8:24-32 gives us the prescription for healing. The Holy Spirit is interceding to our Heavenly Father on our behalf and praying the Father’s will for our lives. We are encouraged that whom He called he will justify. And not only justify, but glorify. Knowing God and following His Son Jesus Christ gives hope to your heart. 

Read Romans 8:24-32 (NLT):

"We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don’t need to hopefor it. But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.)"

"And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them."

"For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory."

"What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?"

Closing: 

When you find yourself in a state of brokenness, read Romans 8:24-32 as medicine for your soul. It will heal your heart and give you a hope. 

God loves you and He wants only good things for His children. He is a good, good Father. No matter what you’re going through, you don’t go through it alone. He is right there with you, waiting for your SOS call. Let Him help and heal you.

~*~
Author Bio:

Nanci is a poet and short story writer published in Cypress News, Family Times E-Zine, Free Verse and the Commonwealth of Poetry. 

She belongs to RWA, ACFW, and Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild where she’s enrolled in his novel writing program.

Nanci lives in Northern Virginia with her husband and cats, Romeo and Juliette, along with their newest member of the family, Roni who is a seven-month-old Goldendoodle.

Recently, Nanci completed her debut novel, A Betrayal in Cross Keys. It is an Amish romance that she has placed in her agent's capable hands. The rest is up to God.