“Breaking leads to restoration.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – November 23, 2021
Burst into songs of joy together, you ruins of Jerusalem, for the Lord has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem. Isaiah 52:9
Last week, while I sat quietly in my favorite chair during the early morning hours, the following phrase came to mind:
Sometimes restoration cannot happen without a humbling and humbling cannot happen without a breaking.
I was quickly reminded that breaking can happen on an individual, family, community, national, or worldwide level. I was also reminded that no one wants to be broken. No one wants to experience pain, but we must remember that God’s purpose of breaking is never to leave us where we are. It’s never to diminish us. Instead, it’s always to elevate us and bring us higher into His peace, joy, love, and freedom. It’s to give us more of Himself and His Kingdom. It’s to usher in redemption.
In Isaiah 51:17-23, God addresses Jerusalem who had sinned against Him. Because of this, the people suffered, and they experienced God’s wrath (Isaiah 51:17). But in Isaiah 52, the Lord promised to restore Jerusalem as a holy city where sinners could not enter. He also told them to clothe themselves with strength and to put on their garments of splendor because His breaking would lead to restoration (Isaiah 52:1).
What blessed hope! When a breaking happens, it’s not to keep us there. It’s to deliver us from our sin so God can be exalted, and we can be transformed. When this happens, we will see that He does for us what we cannot do for ourselves and then our trust and faith in Him will grow.
To reveal the depths and beauty of God, there are times when a breaking must occur. Sometimes growth cannot happen any other way. And though it isn’t pleasant at the time, the fruit of breaking can lead to an abundance like we have never known. We can put our entire faith and confidence in His ability to control our lives and the course of history. We must toss aside the belief that trials mean God is not protecting us. Indeed, He has hidden us safely in his hand (Isaiah 49:2).
Where we have experienced tears, He will bring singing. Where there has been grief, He will bring joy. “Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away” (Isaiah 51:11).
Even the most painful breaking is an opportunity to become more of who He has created us to be and to receive the new calling He has placed on our lives. Do not despise it. Do not run from it. He will bring you through it. And at the right time you will see that He has been in control all along. You will see that your breaking was not in vain, and it wasn’t to punish or leave your heart mortally wounded. It was to bring you newness, redemption, and a changed life that glorifies Him.
How good He is!
“So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world” (1 Peter 1:6-9, NLT).
Prayer
Lord, I don’t like brokenness. But I submit to you, knowing that you are in control and that you love me, my family, my community, my nation, and the entire world. I submit to you, knowing that all things are ultimately under your control, and you are working all things together for good. Thank you, Jesus. Amen.
Application
Are you going through a time of breaking? Look to the future and thank the Lord in faith, knowing that your trouble is not meant for your destruction, but for your redemption.
Related Reading
John 16:33; James 1:12; Romans 8:18
Worship Resource
Elevation Worship with Kari Jobe and Cody Carnes: The Blessing
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