“My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.”
Psalm 51:17
Being used and broken by God is the only way we are fit to be within His presence, growing in Christ’s faith.
Suffering is not a sign of God’s displeasure or punishment on us, but rather a way of refining our character and preparing us for His Domain… it’s out of Love.
“Can I not do with you, Israel, as this potter does?” declares the LORD. “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, Israel.”
Jeremiah 18:6
God uses broken people and things to accomplish His Will, because He is transforming us, like He did in Genesis, akin to the clay (although this is the Spiritual equivalent). We aren’t being “fixed”, He doesn’t “mend” us, He makes us New– this means death, first.
He does not look at our outward appearance or abilities, but at our obedience to Him, from the heart. The heart is only obedient be His decree.
He chooses the weak, the flawed, the broken, and the contrite to display His power and grace, revealing His Glory. Those who are already strong have no desire to forfeit their own strength.
“Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
1 Samuel 16:7
God breaks us in different ways, such as through trials, temptations, failures, losses, disappointments, or persecution.
God Takes Away
God shapes us through the experiences of loss.
Many people reject this aspect of God. They believe that God would never subject us to such hardship, but in reality, He not only has the capacity to do so but actually does.
“Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him dumb, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not the Lord?”
Exodus 4:11
God is inherently good, He is what literally defines the word “good” and he acts according to His own Will. Even Jesus said: “Why do you call me good? No one is good but the Father.”
Exposing Our Shame Reveals His Glory
The painful situations uncovers our inherent sinfulness, emphasizing our deep dependence on Him & His unwavering Grace.
This leaves us with only two options:
- Succumb to wrath…
- Faithfully entrust ourselves to His absolute sovereignty.
Furthermore, suffering serves as a means for us to identify with the pain endured by Christ, who was shattered for our sake on the cross.
Our Purpose: Reveal God’s Glory
God uses us in different ways, such as through our gifts, talents, passions, etc. These opportunities are only worthy if they glorify Him: from the heart.
He is worshipped when we bless others, because our hearts See God’s image in all people, even if we are in no position to help, our new nature just desires to do so.. This doesn’t mean it is of obligation, but of the heart of God’s Spirit within. Anything done out of duty is a sin.
Our purpose is to advance His kingdom.
Suffering increase the experience of joy, as the contrast increases the intensity.
Being used & broken by God is a cyclical process that never ends in this life.
When I say “broken by God,” I mean by His will and decree, though He uses multiple tools like the Adversary, demons, angels, and other humans…
God Is Still Fashioning You
We are constantly being shaped and molded by His hand, as He works in us and through us.
We are continually challenged and pushed to grow under His guidance, as He guides us through life like a shepherd, and rescues us from the dark forces of the world like a lifeguard saving us from treacherous waves.
The Uniqueness of His Flock
While God equips those He calls & chooses, the tools and timing may not match our expectations. As Isaiah 48:10 states:
God tests us..
“in the furnace of affliction… ”
… not leaving our metal impure but rather purifying our souls like fine gold.
The Refinement Process
Seeing our lives as a refining ritual provides perspective. Just as heat separates useful metal from dross, trials burn away our flaws.
Charles Spurgeon rightly said:
… hardships “dig up the soil, & let us see what we are made of.”
God uses troubles to chip away pride, selfishness, and reliance on human strength alone. This preparation perfects our nature for His service.
God Smashes Ego and Pride
It’s dangerously easy to wrongly claim credit for our skills rather than giving all glory to the power working through us.
When God calls out our weakness, we remember that our completeness depends on Him.
He wants spiritual brokenness, the kind of brokenness He can use. He wants godly sorrow that leads to repentance.
2 Corinthians 7:10
Suffering Builds Character
Embracing suffering makes us strong yet sympathetic to others’ struggles
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Our scars enable us to identify with mankind’s anguish in a way comfortable lives cannot.
This empathy is crucial to authentically reach those in pain.
Refinement Shapes our Faith
Though dark valleys may confuse our finite perspective, abandoning ourselves to God’s plans develops trust in Him.
In this fearful surrender, true faith and spiritual maturity take root.
