Allowing oneself to be a broken vessel is hard for the human mind to comprehend.
Two messages revealed by the cross of Christ help us grasp the concept. Namely, life follows death, and joy comes after mourning.
When Jesus hung on the cross, He cried, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46b NASB). Because Jesus took our sins, God the Father turned away from His beloved Son.
Spiritual brokenness happens when we find ourselves alone and seemingly abandoned—even by God. Brokenness is never brought about by something we do, but by what God does. No amount of self-degradation can affect this spiritual condition. No extent of pain or self-sacrifice we inflict on ourselves can bring about a broken spirit. We would just be proud of our humility.
Someone once said, “Humility without grace is just pride in disguise.” It reeks of the ugliness of self-righteousness. Jesus, in His humanness, was honestly overwhelmed by the broken fellowship with His Heavenly Father. If you find yourself enjoying your pain, you may not be on the path to brokenness.
We can’t just hang out and expect God to produce spiritual brokenness in us, but we can be obedient. We can run or remain where God has called us when He brings circumstances or people into our lives who test us beyond our ability to endure. Often our human abilities are overcome by life’s perplexities; a spiritual death transpires and a vessel is broken. Only then are God’s grace and strength fully released.
Writing on this topic is difficult since I understand how unbroken I am. But that may be how it works. You are probably not broken if you think you are. Only those who understand their need can ever achieve it.
Those in the midst of devastating circumstances may feel as if becoming a broken vessel is a bitter pill to swallow. Remember that spiritually speaking, life always follows death—and joy always comes after mourning.
Do whatever it takes to let God make you a broken vessel.
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Ken Barnes has had a twenty-five year career in educational pursuits. He has taught in various public and private schools in Pennsylvania, Hawaii, and Virginia. He also worked for seventeen years with Youth With A Mission as a school leader, recruiter, and director. Ken holds a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Virginia Commonwealth University. He is the author of The Chicken Farm and Other Sacred Places. He currently is a speaker, blogger, and freelance writer. Ken lives with his wife Sharon in Mechanicsville, Virginia. Visit Ken at https://sites.google.com/site/kenbarnesbooksite/