In our journey of faith, we often find ourselves at a crossroads between holding onto our own plans and surrendering completely to God's will. This tension between self and surrender is at the heart of true spiritual growth. But what does it really mean to be "broken" before God, and why is this state so crucial for our spiritual lives?
The concept of brokenness before God isn't about physical or emotional devastation. Rather, it's about emptying ourselves of our own desires, plans, and self-will to make room for God's presence and purpose. It's a state of being where we say, "Here I am, Lord" without hesitation or condition.
Consider the story of Saul, later known as Paul, in the book of Acts. Saul was a man convinced he knew God's plan. He was so certain of his understanding that he actively persecuted followers of "the Way" – early Christians. His zeal was misguided, but in his mind, there was no room for doubt.
Then, on the road to Damascus, Saul encountered the risen Christ. This dramatic meeting shattered everything Saul thought he knew. In an instant, he was broken – not physically, though he was temporarily blinded – but broken in spirit. All his previous convictions were washed away, leaving him empty and open to the touch of the Holy Spirit.
This breaking of self is what God desires for each of us. Not the dramatic, movie-worthy encounter necessarily, but the end result: a heart emptied of self and filled with God's presence.
But Saul's story isn't the only example we have. Consider Ananias, a lesser-known disciple in Damascus. When God called Ananias to go to Saul, his initial response was fear and hesitation. Yet, because Ananias was already living in a state of brokenness before God, he was able to overcome his reservations and obey. His simple act of obedience played a crucial role in God's plan for Saul and the early church.
The contrast between being full of self and being broken before God is stark. We see this in another story from Acts, involving a different Ananias and his wife Sapphira. Their desire for recognition and praise led them to lie about their offering to the church. Their hearts, full of self, led to dire consequences.
Being broken before God isn't easy. It's a continual process of surrendering our will to His. It requires spending significant time in God's presence, allowing His glory to transform us "from glory to glory" (2 Corinthians 3:18). This transformation doesn't happen overnight – it's a gradual emptying of self and filling with God's Spirit.
So how do we cultivate this brokenness? It starts with recognizing our inability to achieve it on our own. We don't have the capacity to fully empty ourselves of self-will. It's only through consistent, intentional time spent in God's presence that we can be slowly drained of self and filled with His Spirit.
This process of breaking isn't about God wanting to harm us. Rather, it's about Him allowing our own choices to bring us to a place where we recognize our deep need for Him. It's in this place of emptiness that we become truly open to God's touch and leading.
The beautiful paradox is that in our brokenness, we find true freedom. When we're no longer bound by our own limited understanding and plans, we become available for God to use in ways we never imagined. It's the broken and empty vessels that God fills and uses to pour out His love and truth to a hurting world.
As we look to the future of our faith and the church, it's crucial to remember that God's methods may change, but His heart remains the same. The church of the 2020s may look different from the church of the 1950s or even the early church in Acts, but the core principle remains: God uses those who are willing to be broken and emptied of self.
We must be careful not to fall into the trap of thinking we know exactly how God will work in the future based on how He's worked in the past. Instead, we need to cultivate a spirit of openness and surrender, always ready to say, "Here I am, Lord" when He calls.
This journey of brokenness isn't a one-time event. It's an ongoing process of coming before God and asking Him to break us, to rid us of our selfish desires, and to make Him first and foremost in our lives. It's a daily choice to spend time in His presence, allowing His glory to transform us bit by bit.
As we embrace this path of brokenness, we open ourselves to be used by God in powerful ways. We become like Ananias, ready to obey even when it doesn't make sense to us. We become like Paul, willing to let go of everything we thought we knew to follow Christ wholeheartedly.
The invitation is open to all of us: Will we come before God and allow Him to break us of our self-will? Will we spend time in His presence, letting His glory fill us and transform us? The path forward in our spiritual lives and in the life of the church is through brokenness and emptiness of self.
As we yield ourselves to this process, we can trust that God will use us to advance His kingdom in ways we can't even imagine. The future may be uncertain, but we can be certain of this: God is still in control, and He will use those who empty themselves of self and stand broken before Him to carry His love and truth into the world.