BROKENNESS: The Reason and the Recovery

Psalm 34:18
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit.

Recently, I saw a picture from the Bird’s Papaya, a body positivity page on Facebook. In the picture she is covering her face with her fingers splayed. The caption included the statement that broken things can let the light in. Immediately, I thought of the radiant light of El Ore streaming through all my brokenness and dispelling the darkness. The impression that I had was such a beautiful image. It also helped me recall the passage of scripture that says that the LORD will not despise a broken and a contrite spirit (Psalm 51:17). The LORD readily accepts me and all God’s children when we are broken due to our own actions or the actions of another. The LORD saves us from pain when we are crushed by the pressures of life. 

Humanity has been given authority and dominion and have been entrusted the earth. When we were in right standing with the LORD before sin, everything in our relationship was as it should be. When sin came in so did death and pain and brokenness. These things were not the will of God. Still, humanity and creation were made in God’s love despite knowing humanity would sin. God desired relationship with people and was willing to ensure that the price was paid to solve the sickness of sin in the world through Jesus Christ. 

Brokenness and crushed spirits do not exist because God wills it or desires it. 
Brokenness and crushed spirits exist because rational, capable people make decisions that result in them. 

And though trials and trouble, brokenness and crushed spirits will come, it is wonderful to know the One who is the cure and is able to make a person every whit whole. The LORD makes me every whit whole in Jesus’s Name. And the LORD makes YOU every whit whole in Jesus’s Name.

Not too long ago, I failed to operate in my compassion towards someone that was waving to me while approaching my car after I was done with the fuel pump. It was raining and dark and I was headed to Virginia. Instead of interacting with the person, I drove off. I felt horrible after I got onto the highway. I was saddened because I made the choice to drive off out of fear (i.e., brokenness). My prayer was that someone would come and help the person and that in the future I would stop and ask Holy Spirit what I should do. I want the Light of God to shine in me and out of me.  The Light of God is compelled to displace darkness.

The Spirit of God is not intimidated or uncomfortable in the company of brokenness or crushed spirits. Indeed, God is the source and agent of recovery to help us become whole and uplift our spirits by faith, hope, and love. 

Prayer:
God of mercy, I repent for every time I failed to show compassion to someone else who was broken or had a crushed spirit. Forgive me for responding to situations out of fear instead of asking You, Holy Spirit, what I should do. I know that I can hear Your voice and another I will not follow. I have experienced brokenness. I know what it is to ache with pain in my spirit. I desire to not just empathize with people. I want to be effective in acting out of love. I am Your hands and feet that minister in this world, in Jesus’s Name. Help me and Your children to know that You’ve called us to compassion which is love in action. Help us to be instruments of compassion in our families and with our friends. More importantly, help us to be instruments of compassion towards are enemies and our strangers. Be our refuge and guide, LORD.  Amen.   

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​written by Myrina K. Robinson
Duke Divinity School MDiv 2022
Guest Blogger for BWET Blog