Lessons Learned from Sickness Part 44: Brokenness
By Pastor Ronny Luces
We don’t like something broken. Even a plate or glass accidentally broke by a child while washing dishes will increase the mother’s blood pressure by several notches.
We like something that is intact, whole, compact. But there are certain situations when brokenness is not only tolerated but is welcomed and needed.
When the doctor told me my sickness, I requested everyone I knew to “bore a hole in heaven’s door,” just like what the paralytic’s friends did in Mark 2: 1-12.
They bore a hole in the roof and brought their friend to Jesus. After going through the broken roof, they brought the person with paralysis to Christ’s feet, and he experienced healing and forgiveness.
Without that broken roof, Christ didn’t see the friends’ faith and deep concern for the person with paralysis.
Without that broken roof, Christ didn’t see that the person with paralysis was also a broken man in need of his healing power.
That’s what we can experience also if we pass by experiences of brokenness in our lives.
Brokenness signifies difficulties, sufferings, limitations, impenetrable problems, dead ends, frustrations, and other grief and despair sources. But you know, after going through the process, the result is different.
Look at the experiences of biblical characters. Each of them experienced going through broken roofs before they became empowered by God.
There is a clear pattern in the Bible that teaches us that brokenness precedes greatness:
- Before Abraham became the father of many nations, he and Sarah were childless.
- Before Jacob could be blessed, he was wounded by an angel in a wrestling match.
- Before Joseph ruled Egypt, he was sold into slavery by his brothers.
- Before Job’s estate was doubled, he lost everything he had, including his family.
- Before Moses led Israel out of Egypt, he was a fugitive running for his life.
- Before Joshua conquered the Promised Land, he went through the wilderness.
- Before David was anointed king, he was rejected by his family.
- Before Jeremiah became a great prophet, he was just a kid preacher that nobody listened to.
- Before Hosea became a powerful spokesman for God, his wife betrayed him and returned to prostitution.
- Before Peter preached 3,000 souls into the kingdom, he denied his Savior three times.
- Before Paul brought the gospel to the Gentiles, he was blinded on the Damascus road.
These biblical characters have experienced brokenness before they have achieved wholeness.
Oswald Chambers said, “If we are ever going to be made into wine, we will have to be crushed—you cannot drink grapes. Grapes become wine only when they have been squeezed.”
Brokenness can teach us valuable lessons on life and truth if we only focus on Jesus.
When God gets us alone through suffering, heartbreak, temptation, disappointment, sickness, or by thwarted desires —when He gets us absolutely alone, and we are totally speechless, unable to ask even one question, then He begins to teach us.
Posted on FB: Monday, 6 April 2015 at 5:35 PM
About the Author
Rev. Ronny Luces was the Minister for Administration and Community Service of the Jaro Evangelical Church (JEC), Iloilo City, Philipines. He and his wife, Martha have been with JEC’s ministry since 1994.
Pastor Ronny graduated from Central Philippine University College of Theology in 1985 and was pastor of several Baptist churches.
In January 2015, after tests and two long hospital confinements, Pastor Ronny got the word he had lung cancer. He underwent chemotherapy.
Praying for healing and going through all the medical processes, Pastor Ronny wrote his reflections “Lessons Learned from My Sickness.” In July 2015, he passed away.
May Pastor Ronny’s series of reflections and meditations strengthen your hope and faith as you go through your own life’s battles.
So blessed and realized brokenness is part of healing…and learning that in my struggles, Jesus is with me along the way🛐