In this recent series of articles we are briefly exploring the five elements, or pillars, of what I have termed, “The Noble Life.”  They are: Authenticity, Followship, Simplicity, Resilience, and Valor.  These, I believe, are the pillars that mark the pathway of the life that honors God and blesses His name in the world – the Kingdom Road.  We have covered the pillar of Authenticity, and this is the latest article on the second pillar, touching on the topic of brokenness.  There will be two more touching on yieldedness and wholeheartedness, five in all, before moving to the third pillar.  I have been doing one a month, but will now be changing this to more frequent postings.  Over the next month or so, other changes will follow.  Comments are welcome. - Bill

[1]

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Psalm 51:16-17 (NIV)

This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word. Isaiah 66:2b (NIV)

I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit… Isaiah 57:15b (NIV)

Followship

(Part Three)

Brokenness

We usually know when something is broken.  It stops working, or it begins to sputter or misbehave in quirky ways.  A car transmission can stop shifting properly.  A beautiful vase can shatter into thousands of seemingly useless pieces.  Similarly, lives can be broken. We don’t normally think of this as being a good development – and we don’t usually respond like Pollyanna playing The Glad Game.[2]  Yet, it is through our brokenness that God chooses to do His greatest work in us.  Sooner or later, we each experience these difficult times. 

It is not important to this discussion whether such brokenness is brought upon us by God, or whether it is because of our humanness that we go through tough times, which He allows, and then uses for His own purposes.  What is important is how we react when every trace of our once-life is stripped away and nothing is left to bring hope, or encouragement that the future will not be unkind.

It would not be uncommon to feel like you are dying.  Pastor and writer, Charles Stanley, says, “Before any of us can live as God has created us to live, we must first die to our desire to control our own lives or to live life according to our plan and will.”[3]  And herein is the secret to this pilgrim pathway, as St. Francis of Assisi wrote, “…it is in dying that we are born…,” reflecting the words of Jesus in John 12:24.

Whether it comes as the failure of a business venture, or a personal tragedy, it is at these times when God either seems remote, or close.  Whichever has been true for you, it is clearly true that God has not changed positions.  He is not surprised by the events of your life.  If you will allow Him to do so, He will heal and transform your heart into something new that can alter the trajectory of your life from now into eternity.  There’s an old Gospel song that goes something like this:

He’s the healer of broken hearts,
He’ll mend your shattered dreams.
He’ll pick up the strands of your broken life,
And weave them together again.
To your heart he’ll bring peace and joy;
Your friend, indeed, He’ll be.
He’s the healer of broken hearts,
This Jesus of Galilee.  [4]

If you are going through these kinds of circumstances, you are probably spending a lot of time trying to figure out what it all means.  While we all learn from our experiences, and while you should never ignore lessons from the crucible, may I suggest that you give it up, I mean give up trying to figure it all out by yourself, your own plans, your own ideas. 

Ask Jesus to come alongside of you and to give you the power to endure through it all.  He cares deeply, and if you allow Him to do so, he will teach you what it is that He would have you do.  Yield to God, make Him the Lord of your life, give your anxiety and worry over to Him and ask Him to bring a spiritual mentor into your life – go looking for one. 

If you have already gone through such times and find yourself moving in new and powerful directions, would you consider encouraging a friend, today?  You see, God has built us so that we need each other, too.

Next time: Yieldedness and learning to follow.