Are you broken?  Have you ever been broken?  If you have, that question doesn't need an explanation. Synonyms for broken include shattered, smashed, damaged, and destroyed. Sometimes when something is broken, it can't be repaired. I have felt that way. I know others that have experienced the same feeling.  Sometimes we feel like nothing can fix our broken spirit.


When broken, you feel like you are of no value and should be discarded.  You begin to wonder if there is a human landfill where you can go to live with other invaluable people. Or maybe, you feel like no one is as worthless as you.  The human landfill might not even accept you. 

Naomi felt that way after her husband and two sons died. She decided to go back to Judah.  As she arrived, the people came out to meet her.  Ruth 1:20 reads, But  Naomi told the people, “Don’t call me Naomi. Call me Mara, because God All-Powerful has made my life very sad." 

There are many times in our lives when we will feel 'very sad.' There are life-changing events that we all must deal with at some point.  The end of a relationship, empty nest syndrome, death of a loved one, change in job or retiring. These events leave us off balance emotionally.  Some people handle it better than others.  Still, it is difficult to face these occurrences without feeling 'very sad.'  

  In the film, The Overcomer, a man was trying to explain to his daughter why he had left her 15 years ago when she was a baby.  He explained what his life was like at the time and then he said, "But God loved me enough to allow me to be broken.  I needed to be broken."   Job said, "I was at ease, but he hath broken me asunder: he hath also taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces, and set me up for his mark." Job 16:12  

 Illustration: Basic training in the military is eight grueling weeks.  It is said that they spend the first four weeks tearing recruits down and the next four building them the way they want them to be. They want soldiers who are respectful, trustworthy, loyal, and can follow orders.  They want the men and women fit for their service.  Why does God allow us to be broken? Sometimes God loves us enough to allow us to be broken. Then He sets about building us back the way He wants us--fit for His service.

God is able to build and make us what He needs for the Kingdom of God.  He not only builds us, but he heals our broken heart in the process.  
He healeth the  broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.Psalms 147:3. 


Yes, God loves us enough to allow us to be broken when He knows that there is a better life waiting for us. When we are broken, we can then cry out to Him and receive the rich blessings that He has for us.  I said, "Lord, be merciful tome; Heal my soul, for I have sinned against You."  Psalm 41:4.

He heals our broken hearts and binds our wounds, sometimes by reminding us of the things that are really important.  He is able and willing to heal us, but we have job to do before He can.  If my people who are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.  II Chronicles 7:14.

Concentrate on that verse. It is an if/then statement.  The IF must happen before the THEN can happen.  In this verse he requires four things from His people:

• Humble themselves
• Pray
• Seek God's face
• Turn from wicked ways

That is FOUR things.  Not three or two.  Certainly not one thing.  When we as humans get in a bind, have trouble, or experience major unhappiness, we immediately begin praying.  When nothing in our lives changes, we say, "Well, I prayed, but God didn't do anything."  When my children were growing up and wanted to go somewhere, I sometimes gave them a list of things that had to be done before they could go.  They knew everything on the list must be completed before they could expect their reward. I would go down the list.  Did you do...? I made sure that the list was completed before they were given permission.  God, our Father, is no different.  As a father, He might ask:

•  Did you humble yourself?
• Did you seek my face?
• Did you turn from your wicked ways?

God loves us enough to allow us to broken.  He knows that He is willing and able to repair and heal us--right after we do our job.

We have all heard children yell, "It's not fair."  Usually  when something isn't going their way.  They aren't getting what they want or are being asked to do some unwanted task. 
Most of us have said or thought the same thing when reviewing something in our own lives.

• ​Someone else received the promotion, dashing our hopes and dreams.
• Our children are rebellious or non-compliant, robbing us of the joy of parenthood.
• We were betrayed by a friend, leaving us with feelings of mistrust.
  
• Our spouse made a decision that will change our lives forever.  

God Didn't Promise a Rose Garden

Nowhere in the Bible does God promise us that life will be easy if we follow him.  In Exodus 6:7 God promises  And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the Lord your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. Even though they were God's special people, the Israelites suffered through many difficult issues.  Some adversities were due to poor decisions they made, while others dealt with social or territorial matters.

Yet There Were Those Times

Life occasionally brings about completely unwarranted hardship.  Look at Michal, the daughter of King Saul and wife of David.  She fell in love with David as a young girl. Her sister had been promised to David, however Saul changed his mind and gave her to another man.  Saul was not interested in the happiness of either of his daughters or David.  He was simply trying to secure his own throne. 

Saul then promised to give Michal to David. So from the beginning, she is second prize. David enters the marriage with political aspirations in mind, while Michal enters with thoughts of beautiful romantic evenings with the man she loves.

When threatened, David runs from Saul, promising to send for Michal.  Instead he takes another wife. After some years, Michal is given to another man, finally living the life of her dreams. Then David decides he wants her back as his wife--one of several.  Again, a political move.

To sum up Michal's life:

• Her father gave her to David as a second attempt to save his throne.
• Her husband lied to her.
• ​Her husband was unfaithful to her.
• Her father gave her to another man.
• She was forcefully returned to David, whom she then despised.
• She verbalized a protest to David's behavior.
• She was rejected by David and never mentioned in the Bible again.

Deserved Or Not?
Did Michal deserve the way she was treated? Probably not, but God allowed it,  the Bible has documented it, and we can learn from it.  Have you been treated unfairly in life?  Certainly!  Everyone has been dealt a low blow at some point. No one gets out of life unscathed. 

Lately, our country has been plagued by one weather related disaster after another. People have lost their homes, jobs, and communities. No one could stop the onslaught of attacks by nature. The weather cannot be stopped or altered. 

Just recently, a group of people were worshiping on a Sunday morning.  Suddenly a man pulled a gun from his pants and shot two members of the congregation. The gunman was met by gun fire from other members, ending the shooting in six seconds. Although many lives were saved, two very godly men lost their lives before the shooter was stopped.

In 2019, doctors diagnosed 11,060 children with cancer. While many will be cured, some will die. Innocent children stricken with a disease that no one should suffer through.

Each day 90 people die in a vehicle accident. Some of no fault of their own.  

During the first seven months of 2019, there were 137 violent crimes reported.

​None of these incidences were fair.  None of these people deserved what happened to them. God did not promise to keep us from all harm. In fact, John 16:33 says, "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace.  In the world ye shall have tribulations but be of good cheer,; I have overcome the world."  He said that as long as we live in this world, we have trouble. Why?  Because Satan is still at large. I Peter 5:8 says, Be sober, be vigilant, for your adversary, the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.  

Although God didn't promise to give us a smooth ride, he did promise to go with us. Genesis 33:12 And he said, Let us take our journey, and let go, and I will go before thee. 
Deut. 31:8 And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee,; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.
 Isiah 45:2 I will go before thee,  and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:

When life seems unfair, remember that God has a plan and one day we will understand everything that we walked through on this earth.  Take comfort in the fact that God promised to be with you every step of the way.

When considering this page, I thought about the purpose: to know more about God and His word.  I considered calling it Grace in Growing or Growing in Grace.  Why did I choose Grace In Knowing?

Let's look at some definitions for a minute.  Justice is getting exactly what you deserve.  Mercy is not getting a punishment you deserve.  Grace is getting a blessing you don't deserve. We do not deserve God's blessings. We did not deserve salvation, but God gave it to us by His grace.          

Ephesians 2:8-9 
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

We have been shown much grace by God.  Salvation alone would have been enough grace.  Yet He continually shows grace when we totally mess up.   He gives us grace when we do or say something that is displeasing to him.  He even gives us grace when we leave his flock for a season of sin.  He graciously and lovingly welcomes us back. 

On the flip side, we are expected to show grace to others.   Boaz showed grace to Ruth as she gleaned in his field. The king showed grace to Esther as she asked for the lives of her people. Hosea showed grace to Gomer when he brought her into the family house a second time. David showed grace each time he passed up an opportunity to kill Saul. Likewise, God expects us to show grace in our daily lives.  The more we know about God and his word, the more grace we are able to bestow on others.

Occasionally I remember a time when I was shown grace by another person.  More often than not, I remember a time when I chose not to show grace to someone. Oh, how God must have shaken His head as he watched me fail, once again, to show the love of God. 

A few years ago, I was taught grace by a young college student.  The church was helping her go to college.  Several of us were acting as parents for guidance.  We learned that one of her roommates stole $8,000 from her bank account.  She was advised to file charges.  She was advised to take the roommate to small claims court.  She was advised to contact the girl's parents.  She spent a lot of time in prayer about how to handle the problem.  One Sunday morning, she was home for a visit.  I asked her about the situation.  Then I asked, "What did you do?" She said, "I wrote a letter and told her I forgave her.  I thought it was time for a little grace." 

Oh, the lesson I learned that morning standing in the parking lot.  Could I have done what she did?  No, I don't think so.  I need to work on giving grace. 

Here are some things that I can do to show grace:

• Speak softly and kindly
• Apologize sincerely when I hurt someone.
• Accept apologies with a sweet spirit.
• Forget about 'pay backs'.
• Look for and fill the needs of others, expecting nothing in return.
• Go out of the way to make someone feel welcome in my home and church.

How can I learn to do these things?  
  2 Corinthians 12:9
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

With God's help, I will grow closer to Him and share more grace with others.