More lessons on Brokenness
“Hear my cry, O God; Give heed to my prayer. From the end of the earth I call to You when My heart is faint; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. You have been a refuge for me, A tower of strength against the enemy. Let me dwell in Your tent forever; let me take refuge in the shelter of Your wings.” Psalm 61:1-4
Let me encourage you to get a bible, take time to read and reflect on the whole chapter of Psalm 61. This psalm of David is also known as the “Psalm of Pearl” . . . knowing that originally, a pearl starts when impurities get inside the oyster, irritating it and causing it to coat the irritant with a slimy substance which it secretes resulting in a beautiful piece called pearl. Indeed, this is what brokenness is all about . . . bringing something precious out of an irritant.
David, having encountered God in the cave and in several wildernesses of his life, now learns to live out or apply these lessons on Brokenness.
A word of caution, please resist the temptation to compare your experience of brokenness with others. Your experience of brokenness and mine are tailored-made . . . uniquely tailored for our own needs. To compare is unwise. However, even though the process of being spiritually broken is uniquely different, the product of brokenness is, mysteriously, the same!
Psalm 61 shows three quick lessons on brokenness which David learned to apply in his lifetime. First, David learned how to CRY. This word ‘cry’ actually refers to prayer. It also means to call or to shout to the Lord. Honestly, we all learn the value and power of prayer, not in times of prosperity but in times of trouble. Trouble is a faithful servant of God that facilitates brokenness so that God’s children may experience genuine spiritual breakthroughs which ultimately leads to an authentic transformation of the heart. Someone once said . . . I only pray when I am in trouble, and I am always in trouble, therefore, I always pray. Makes sense to me.
David learned how to CONTEMPLATE. Here, David learned to value the PRESENCE of God. In prayer, David asks God, complains to God, pours his angry heart out to God. In contemplation, David waits and worships God and is so soaked-up in the presence of God. Here, David longs and savors God’s company. In silence and solitude, David thinks deeply about God. Without brokenness, our time is spent responding to the priorities we have set for ourselves, our focus is definitely not on God. In brokenness, the Giver is sought after more than gifts; the Savior is longed for rather than just being saved.
Meeting the Healer is now more important than healing itself. Psalm 73:26 paints this search for God “My flesh (health) and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Contemplation is deeply thinking about something. In the case of brokenness, contemplation is deeply thinking about someone. To give you a formula for contemplation is not enough and may be unwise. Crying to God in prayer and contemplating in His presence are not results of religious activities. They are beautiful blessings enjoyed through brokenness!
David’s most practical lesson learned in brokenness was connecting again with others. This happens in worship . . . the kind of worship that pushes you out of your room to join the many others and as a congregation, they worship God. Broken people now learn how to relate with others. It is crystal-clear that brokenness taught many that they need God, and that they also need others. David wanted only one thing and that was to dwell in the temple of the Lord worshipping God with His people. Remember this, broken people connect with others not as a lecturer but as a fellow learner. Broken people Pray. Yes, in your pain, one may choose to be self-preserving, this is understandable.
Traumatized people distance themselves from others. While these responses are understandable, they do not picture brokenness. Actually, to keep complaining and defending image, spreading toxic acids of hate and vengeance are accurate signs of a hopelessly hardened heart, never a broken heart. If you find yourself asking . . . “am I broken or hardened?” Rejoice, you are on your way to a spiritual breakthrough because hardened hearts don’t even mind to ask. Cry, contemplate and connect are the non-negotiable lessons of spiritual brokenness.
Thanks for reading . . . still learning to write from a broken heart.