Brokenness

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Prov. 4:23 NIV

I am terrible at directions.  I can get lost in a parking lot.  I need help, usually from my wife, getting pointed in the right direction. That is not only true of driving, it can also be true of life.

Like it or not, times of pain and disappointment will come.  We will get hurt.  We will be disappointed. The issue we must consider is not when or why, we are experiencing pain but how.  How will we response to the season of brokenness?  Will we get “bitter” or “better”? 

Bitterness is a result of not allowing God to use the hurtful things of life to help us grow. Allowing God to use the times of brokenness to grow our character are results of us taking the better path.

I have been on the bitter side of brokenness.  It controlled my life.  Sleepless nights, damaged relationships, a cynical attitude… All because I took the wrong turn. Brokenness, in many ways, is like a fork in the road. One direction leads to certain destination (bitter), the other direction to yet another destination (better).

By the grace of God, I have also taken the better path.   This road, although bumpy, is a road of blessing, hope, and real joy (James 1:2-4).   What I experienced down the path to “better” would not be possible without the Lord.  He gave me the wisdom to take the better path and by His grace, I can stay on it.  Left to my own choice, I would choose the bitter road every time. Why? because of my pride. If it were up to me, “I” would be the center of my life.

The direction your life will take when dealing with the brokenness of pain and disappointment is determined by what type soil the seed of brokenness falls on.  If our hearts are prideful, we will be bitter when faced with brokenness.  If our hearts are humble, we will, by God’s grace, take the better road (James 4:6).

Guard your heart against pride.  With God’s help,  foster a heart of humility. A prideful heart seeks to honor oneself.  A humble heart seeks to honor Christ.  So, above all else, guard your heart.