From Brokenness to Blessedness
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
Matthew 5:4 (NIV)
The teachings of Jesus were as uncommon in His day as they are in our own today. Those who heard Him then recognized that He didn’t speak as the religious leaders did. The beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount are a great example. The word “blessed” actually means “happy.” But when you put that with what Jesus says in this second beatitude it sounds so strange. It could be translated, “Happy are the sad….” How does that make sense?
It’s amazing isn’t it, how in one simple sentence, Jesus can grab our hearts. Anyone who has ever experienced sorrow from brokenness understands what Jesus was saying, because brokenness leads to blessedness. It’s really in our brokenness that we experience God’s comfort the most if we don’t try to hide it, but bring it to Him.
I experience blessing from brokenness when my failures turn me to the Father. The prodigal son did that when he came to the end of himself and all his resources and had nowhere else to go. Jesus tells us the story in Luke 15:17, 20 (NIV), where He says, “When he (the prodigal son) came to his senses … he got up and went to his father.” God represented the father in this story, and He was just waiting for His son to return. When we let our failures turn us to the Father, we find blessing from our brokenness.
The same is true of our hurts. Maybe it wasn’t our failures that brought the brokenness in our lives. It could have been the betrayal of another or circumstances beyond our control. Nevertheless, we are left deeply wounded and hurting. Our hearts are broken. How can blessing come from such pain? When that happens, I have a choice. I can hold on to my hurts, or my hurts can turn me to the Healer. Jeremiah chose the latter when he prayed, “Lord, You alone can heal me, You alone can save, and my praises are for You alone.” in Jeremiah 17:14 (TLB). Have you given the Healer your hurts? Don’t hold on to them for another second. God cares. He longs to comfort you and bring blessing out of your brokenness. Jesus said, “Those who are sad now are happy, because God will comfort them.” Matthew 5:4 (NCV)
Whether it was a personal failure or the failure of another, the pain is real. Yet it’s through our tears that we find the real treasure. The Apostle Paul, after experiencing so many troubles, shared this personal insight from his own pain: “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” 2 Corinthians 4:7 (NIV)
We are simply fragile jars of clay. The treasure isn’t the jar of clay; it’s what it contains. When Christ indwells us, He brings wholeness out of brokenness to put His glory on display. Just as a candle shines brighter through a cracked vessel, His light shines brighter through our brokenness if we will turn to Him. He is the treasure that will bring blessing. Take your brokenness to God and experience the comfort only He can bring.
Another important part of your daily devotional is spending time with God in prayer. The Woodlands Church Prayer Board lists prayer requests submitted by our members and provides a way to send them some encouragement by using a button on the page to let them know that you prayed for them. Whether you use the Prayer Board, or pray from your heart, the goal is to build the habit of incorporating prayer into your quiet time.
Need prayer yourself? Let us know by submitting a prayer request on the Woodlands Church Prayer Board.