Brokenness

For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. (2 Corinthians 4:11)

The word sends a chill up our spine.  Brokenness. We shudder at the thought.  In fact, most of us will do whatever it takes to avoid the vulnerability, the lack of control, and the humbling that accompanies brokenness.

We tend to think of brokenness as something that requires healing; but let’s consider brokenness in a different light.  Steve McVey’s definition of brokenness is, “A condition which exists when a person has given up all confidence in his own ability to manage life.” [1] Using this definition, brokenness is not something we attain and move on from or from which we get healed. Rather it is a condition we want Christ to maintain in us.  The moment we move beyond brokenness we have moved back into self-sufficiency, self-effort, living in our own strength and the flesh.  “To walk after the flesh really just means living out of our own abilities.  Another way to describe it is self-sufficiency.  Flesh refers to those techniques that I depend on when I try to get my needs met or manage my own life apart from Jesus Christ.” [2]

If brokenness is giving up all confidence in our own abilities to make life work, then it is a condition we want to settle into, seeking moment by moment to rejoice in our brokenness.

Why would we want to be broken and to live broken lives?  Because it is in our brokenness that full surrender comes allowing the life of Jesus Christ to flow in and through us.

Are you broken before the Lord?

Diane Hunt

This devotional was first published in Real Victory for Real Life Volume 2.

[1]  Steve McVey –The Grace Walk Experience

[2] IBID

Written by Diane Hunt: Diane Hunt serves on the board of America’s Keswick and is the Executive Director & CEO of Changed Choices, a Christian non-profit in North Carolina. She is also a biblical counselor and women’s event speaker. For more information about having Diane speak at your next event please contact her at dhunt@americaskeswick.org.