The Value of Brokenness (Part 2)

July 17, 2009 categories:  Christian Articles

by Vince Porchiazzo

God wants to fix our spirit first because that is the part that God connects with.  When God sets us free in our spirit then our emotions and our body will fall in line.  Remember, God is our father and as a father He will do whatever it takes (for as long as it takes) to break us of our self-sufficiency so that He can be demonstrated through us.

We want to be fixed right away, but we must remember that when we let God fix us it will be done in God’s time.  He loves us so much.  He loves to help us get through our hard times.  We have to let Him do it because He knows us better than we do.  When it comes to God, manipulation is out.  We need to have faith.

And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children?  He said, “My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline, and don’t give up when he corrects you.  For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”  As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children.  Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father?  If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all.  Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?  for our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how.  But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness.  No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening–it’s painful!  But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.  (Hebrews 12:5-11)

Some phases of our recovery may be very painful.  We may feel that we are being punished for our failures.  We may assume that bad things are happening to us because we are bad.  And we may even begin to believe that God doesn’t love us.  It may hurt when God disciplines us, but this in itself displays his love for us.  (Hebrews 12:5-7, 10-11)

Recovery is a time of correction, a time of facing problems and character flaws and changing incorrect beliefs.  There may be seasons when we do have to pay for our past.  God will use these times to redirect our life toward something better.  His correction isn’t arbitrary or abusive, but it is still painful.  Knowing that God’s discipline demonstrates his love for us can be comforting in the midst of our pain.  It helps to remember that his love will allow only that which is for our ultimate good.

The Life Recovery Bible, pg. 1593