Brokenness

He came, with the unit’s deputy walking behind him. He was holding a book with his left hand as he carefully placed a painful right hand, resting on top of the book.

“What happened?” I queried.

“I was practicing my karate chops this morning, Ma’am, when I woke up. I swung pretty hard and accidentally hit the metal frame of the bunk bed. I hit it so hard that my right hand feels so much pain. I’m scared to move it so I have this book to make it just rest on top,” he softly answered.

“I can see that, the moment you walked in. But…I don’t see any deformity nor swelling. There is also no bruising. So, I hope that it’s good,” I answered as I carefully palpated the radial pulse to make sure there was a good circulation flowing to the right hand. There was.

“Sir, since there’s no doctor at this time, I’m going to wrap your hand with a special dressing to support it and make it not move as much. It may hurt you as I do so. But when I get done, you will feel relief,” I reassured.

“Do what you have to do, Ma’am. I think it’s broken,” he said.

“I don’t think it is. I can’t tell you the symptoms when there is a fracture. But to be on the safe side, I will still put you for the doctor and it will be up to him to order an x-ray,” I uttered. [I don’t disclose symptoms to inmates because sometimes, they tend to come back and fake the severity of their illnesses or injuries and they start saying the symptoms if they are told].

After using an Ace-wrap bandage and giving him something for pain, he slowly got up…

“Thank you, Ma’am. Ahhh. You’re right, it does feel better. But I'm still gonna' use this book,” he replied as he smiled.

“Hope you feel better…I know you need the doctor if it is broken,” I responded.

We all practice our “karate chops”, too [self-reliance] but when we break our will as we face many trials, that’s when we realize we need the “Doctor” and we become totally dependent of Him. It seems like when God has a greater plan for a person, the greater the brokenness that occurs. The apostle Paul both endured great power along with great brokenness. But he never said that his “brokenness” was a punishment nor a failure. He asserted that his sufferings were a result of his service to Christ.

2 Corinthians 1:5 ~ “For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.” [ESV]

Blessings go with brokenness? That’s hard to take! How can we feel blessed while being broken at the same time? But all the pain, all the hurt brought about by a loss of loved ones, of divorce, of being trapped in substance abuse, of being financially broken, bring about that potential to discover the richness in living that otherwise, we would never know. It is through brokenness that we experience God’s greatest blessings…

It is only through brokenness that God’s power works in us. Our self-reliance is replaced with His desires and good intentions for us.

In the end, we discover spiritual maturity, a deeper relationship with God, His divine wisdom, more power to minister to others, strength, peace, etc…etc…

Lord, I’m broken!!! Ahhh…But You’re right. I feel better…Because of my brokenness, Your healing and restoration come forth…

Let us stop fixing our "brokenness" in our own terms. Let's bring it to Christ...

15 comments:

  1. I have said this before but your post always blesses me.

    Merry Christmas,
    Tammy

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  2. Beautifully said. I read today of a martial arts saying, "the hit is a gift." How wonderful if we could always remember to see the blessings that go with brokenness!

    May your Christmas be joyous and full of blessings!

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  3. Precious Sister,

    I had to come by here. Thank you for this posting. Yes, I am going through some kind of brokenness, despair inside. I think it's a culmination of dealing with so much sickness and death since 1992. That's a very long time of enduring...but I know that He is with me even when it feels like He is so very far away.

    I love you sweet friend. Thank you for touching my mind and heart tonight as you always do.

    Merry Christmas and blessings to you and your family,
    Alleluiabelle

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  4. Rosel,
    Thank you my friend for sharing. God has broken me so many times. . . so HE could put me back together for HIS perfect will.
    I also wanted to let you know that I got your message about Denise. I wonder if she has a church family. Or if there is a church near the hospital that we could contact to help her out. What do you think my friend? I have also let another friend/blogger know about Denise. These two have met before and Marsha lives in NC too.
    Please e-mail me if you can think of anything else we can do to help Denise out. I could travel there but I can not travel (drive) alone. My e-mail address is jbhappy@windstream.net
    I love you my friend. Sorry this is so long.
    May God continue to bless you.
    In the Saviour's Hands,
    Bren

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  5. I know all too well about being broken...physically, emotionally, and financially. But as you say in your post it is when you are broken that God can put you back togeter. Thank you for encouraging me and I hope you had a Merry Christmas!

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  6. You are always a blessing Rosel. I hope you had a Merry Christmas!

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  7. Thanks for that post, Dear. Thank God He is there to heal us when we are broken. Blessings~

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  8. Yes - we are all a bunch of broken people in desperate need of healing. I am so thankful that my brokenness is welcomed by the only one who can truly heal. Thanks for the reminder that we all come broken ~ but we have access and hope with the One who heals. Merry Christmas Friend!

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  9. love this as usual. Hope your christmas was the best.

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  10. Amen! Truth!!! We have to come to Him in our brokeness, and humbled to be healed. I hope your Christmas was blessed!
    Wylie

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  11. Brokeness isn't always sorrowful. Our need for Christ becomes evident when our heart is lying in pieces. I'm so grateful for the shattered pieces. My Master can now do something with this old cracked pot.

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  12. As usual, I appreciate what you say as well as how you've tied it all together; not to mention I'm always thinking how grateful I am that you're a nurse where you're at.

    I'm reminded of a favorite verse of mine in Matthew 5:3 (MSG):
    "You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.

    Brokenness makes me realize that I can't do - then I get to experience God's mighty power.

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  13. Rosel, Thank You for your post. Your posts make my day. Knowing you is such a blessing. What a blessing that God will heal the broken.

    But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us... Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved) Ephesians 2:4-5 Love you my friend, Audrey

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  14. Thank you for another great post. Hallelujah! He doesn't just fix us, He makes us brand new! Praise His name!

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"Faith is taking the first step even if you don't see the whole staircase..."
~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

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