The Broken Place

At some point in our lives, we have all travelled to the broken place. This is not usually like a vacation that we plan; we somehow just arrive there through experiences and circumstances that are beyond our control. Some of us have been in our broken place for so long that we have started to have polarizing feelings. Should we keep praying and working for things to change? Or should we just give up on hoping for better, as this seems to be our life now? These feelings are natural and expected, as the broken place is not pleasant. It is torturous, painful, and if you aren’t careful, it sucks the ‘you’ out of you.

The broken place for me is that place where nothing works as you expect or goes according to plan. One plus one (1+1) does not equal two (2). The best laid plans fall apart like a glass being shattered on the floor. Your life seems to be on a downward trajectory and everything that can go wrong, does. You experience loss, failure, financial challenges, stress, depression, and self-doubt. You often feel worthless, like all your hard work has been in vain because you have been trying everything, but nothing works as it ought to. Everything that is happening, feels like a coordinated attack against you, with one major target – your sanity.

What is our posture while in our broken place?

I have always reflected on the story of Job. I admire his unwavering faith and his trust in God. This is a man who lost everything. He lost his children, his livelihood, all his valued possessions; and if that was not enough, his physical body endured sickness. If we were ranking broken places, this would have to be at least the platinum level. I can’t imagine what our reaction would be if we literally lost everything. Would you say, “the Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord?’ Would you be able to withstand the pressure when your closest friends levied the blame for all your misfortunes solely at your feet? Surely, you must have sinned in order to be going through these extremely difficult times. What would your response be if your spouse said to you ‘curse God and die’?

Truth be told, many of us, myself included, would have likely failed this test. How did I draw this conclusion? Do a quick introspection on how you have handled certain difficult, unplanned, uncomfortable situations in the past. Was this your posture? Or were you more like a burdened Jesus saying ‘My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?’ Sometimes I feel like the broken place is a contract breach. I did not sign up for this. Why must I go through all these trials and tribulations? Am I really expected to ‘count it all joy?’ (James 1:2-3)

Does the Broken place have a purpose?

Believe it or not, these trials and tribulations serve a purpose. I can’t begin to tell you what that purpose is, but in time, you will look back: more resilient, stronger and wiser because of it. Don’t believe me? Let us take a quick look at the story of Joseph found in Genesis 37-50. Joseph was the 11^th of 12 sons for his father Jacob, who loved him dearly. This display of love caused his brothers to become jealous. This got worse when he had two dreams that symbolized that he would rule over them. They did not like this and one day, an unsuspecting Joseph was thrown in a pit. He was going to be left for dead but some of his brothers saw a caravan passing and sold him into slavery instead. He ended up in Egypt and was sold to Potiphar, one of Pharoah’s ministers.

During this time Joseph was divinely blessed and he found favor in his master’s eyes rising to become the head of his estate. He was quite handsome and so Potiphar’s wife tried to become intimate with him, but he fled, leaving his coat behind. Seething from this rejection, Potiphar’s wife accused him of attempting to rape her and he was thrown in prison. While in prison, he again found favor. He met one of Pharoah’s cupbearers and he interpreted one of his dreams before his release. Two years later, Pharoah had two dreams that he could not interpret. The cupbearer remembered Joseph from his days in prison and he was brought before Pharoah. Joseph interpreted Pharoah’s dream to mean that there would be seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine and advised him to store grains for the famine during the time of plenty.

Unexpected blessing

Pharoah was impressed with Joseph and appointed him as his second in command, responsible for the years of famine. During the years of famine, Joseph’s brothers had to journey to Egypt to seek grain. They had to go through him and they did not even recognize him. I am sure they would not have expected Joseph to have attained such a high position. When Joseph finally revealed himself to them, it was a tearful reunion and, in the end, when they apologized for what they did to him he said, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” (Genisis 50:20)

Now I am sure it must have taken a lot to have gotten to this point. I am sure he didn’t feel that way when he was thrown in a pit and then sold to slavery, or when he was wrongfully imprisoned for years. However, in the end, he saw the purpose in why he had to go through these challenging situations. We usually do not have the big picture, so we focus only on our current circumstances. While we don’t know what that bigger picture is, let us trust that there is a purpose for everything.

It is often during our broken place experience that we come to realize the many names of God for ourselves. I call him Jehovah Jireh because I lacked and He provided. I call Him Jehovah Gibbor because I was encountering challenges and He fought for me. He has proven himself to be Jehovah Shalom, because although things were not working according to plan, He gave me peace. I call him Jehovah Rapha because I was sick and He healed me. He is not only the God of Daniel, Moses, Abraham and Isaac; He is our God as well. These experiences give us the opportunity to know him for ourselves. I know these times are difficult, but ask God for grace to carry you through.

Scriptural encouragement while going through your broken place

Psalm 27: 1-3 The LORD is my light and my salvation whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.

Psalm 34:17 When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears, and rescues them from all their troubles.

Isaiah 43:1-3 Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

Luke 12:25-26 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life[a]? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

Joshua 1:9 Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

James 1: 2-4 Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.

Go through it!

The best way to go through your broken place is to do just that; go through it. Your broken place is a part of your journey, it is not your destination. It was Steve Harvey who said “If you are going through hell, keep going. Why would you stop in hell?’ Your situation did not come to stay, it came to pass.