Broken
Broken. This word has such a finality to it. If you were to look it up in the dictionary you would find several types of meanings of the word. The (adjective) meaning is: having been fractured or damaged and no longer in one piece or in working order. If you were to look further, you would find the meaning (of a person): having given up all hope and in despair.
As humans, how do we get to such a place in our lives? What causes us to fall into despair and hard times? Is it because we have been trying to do everything on our own power? Have we ignored the teachings of the Father? Isaiah 30:12-13 says: “Because you have rejected this message, relied on oppression and depended on deceit, this sin will become for you like a high wall, cracked and bulging, that collapses suddenly, in an instant.”
Matthew 6:22-24 says:”The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!”
These were just a couple of Bible verses explaining what our lives can be like if we try to live our lives on our own power and our own misguided thoughts and actions. Sometimes though, we get to a place like this. Not because of what we have done, rather what has been done to us. Personally, I have been in this pit. A pit so deep that you could not see the light of day anymore. So deep that the voices inside my head were telling me how worthless I was as a human being. I would never live a life of happiness. Unfortunately, I got there by both what I had done and what had been done to me. I thought that the world owed me something for everything that had been done to me, and when I felt that I was not receiving that validation, I would let out all my anger and frustration on anyone that was in my way. Then to medicate those feelings I would act in a manner unbecoming of a Christian man.
How did I turn my life around? Well, my friends, it was not easy. At first, I tried to do it on my own power. When that didn’t work, I was introduced to the Celebrate Recovery ministry. As I started to become acquainted with the program, I found out that the only way I was going to turn my life around was to trust Jesus Christ and to commit to the process of Celebrate Recovery. Since that point in time, I can truthfully tell you that my life has changed so much! One of my favorite verses in the Bible comes from Psalm 40:1-3 - “I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire, He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in Him.”
Feeling broken? Does it feel like your life is out of control? Do you want to change but feel like you are just spinning your wheels? Celebrate Recovery can help you find the person that you want to become. Our Christ-centered recovery program has helped many men and women recover from their hurts, habits, and hang-ups. Join us every Tuesday evening at 7:00pm, at Good News Community Church in Okoboji, Iowa.
Until next month, May the God of peace be with you all! Don.