Do certain words ever leap off a page at you?
My reading through the Bible yesterday had me in Exodus 6. God has heard the prayers of the people of Israel and seen their oppression. Moses has spoken to Pharaoh, and his response is to make it significantly worse for the people of Israel. Even Moses accuses God: “you have not delivered your people at all (Exodus 5:23).” God responds, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh (Exodus 6:1).”
And the people can’t hear it: Moses spoke thus to the people of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses, because of their broken spirit and harsh slavery (Exodus 6:9).
That phrase, ‘because of their broken spirit,’ crashed into my brain and then exploded.
I know what a broken spirit feels like. Many of you know it as well when your hopes have been crushed one more time, and you can’t even hear good news.
Look at their situation. The elders had believed the signs that Moses had offered from God (Exodus 4:31). Hope was being kindled. Moses goes to Pharaoh. Rather than being released, Pharaoh made the situation even worse for them, and they blamed Moses.
Their hopes had been crushed. Even Moses says he can’t go back to Pharaoh (Exodus 6:12).
What do health, wealth and prosperity preachers do with that? Obviously God won’t be able to do anything since these people all lack faith.
Except, of course, God isn’t constrained by anything!
God looks at his spirit-broken people and the very man he has called to lead them, and begins to move with such power that we’re still reading and talking about it thousands of years later. God says such astonishing, outrageous (except that it is God saying them) things about his sovereignty over all things in the next chapters that we will either bow down and worship him for his majesty and goodness and wisdom, or we will reject him entirely.
And, the irony is, because God isn’t constrained by our lack of faith, we can have faith that he will do all that he has promised to do for those he has called. That’s what made my brain explode – God looks at dead, unbelieving, anxious, hopeless, broken hearts, and makes them alive. Not one hint of faith on the Israelite’s part, and he moves to rescue them.
Because he knows the ends from the beginning, and has promised that all things work together for good, and truly knows what love looks like in all situations, and has given us a future hope that is so glorious it is indescribable, we can have faith that even our broken spirits will bring God glory and will be for our good.
These are not easy days in our household; I am fighting discouragement on several fronts. But I KNOW that God is not hindered in his purposes when I am battling the sins of unbelief and anxiety. I know that my dependency on him rather than on myself brings him greater honor.
Do you have a broken spirit? Pray. God will help. Trust his blood-bought promises rather than your perceptions.
Do you know someone with a broken spirit, and they can’t hear anything you say? God will help. Pray, and trust him that he will do the right thing. Pray, and by doing so fight for them when they can’t fight for themselves.
Yet again, John, your heartfelt words and deep truths resonate! Thank you for sharing authentically and insightfully. Your family is in my prayers.
Thank you, Bro. Knight, for these words and more importantly for your prayers. As the Apostle Paul says, For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
(2Co 4:6-10)
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Many times, we try to solve our problems with our own strength without even realizing that we are doing so, but we have to remember to take our struggles to god and trust in HIM instead of looking to man to solve our complex problems. GOD really does have all of the answers that we are searching for but we have to seek HIS answers and not our own. He has the answer to cure whatever ails us. I love 2 cor. 4 6-10 as quoted above. Some may say that they do not believe in the god or the bible, but if it is true that we become what we truly believe in, then I would rather believe in the bible than in the workings of this world…simply because it’s all good.
Thank you for sharing this, it was what i needed to, this morning. sometimes it seems that blow after blow come to rattle us but it also shows us that our focus is off.
This was so beautiful and made me cry as I read it. I wonder why.
I needed that. I am so broken right now and only God can fix the mess I’ve made of my life
I am struggling with reading GOD’S word and being able to remember what I have read. I have had several strokes and I can easily say I can remember because the strokes has left some damage. However, to me that not an option. I want read HIS WORDS and be able to remember what I have read.
I know my SPIRIT is broken and I am trying everything I can to get it back. At a point in my life of pre-stroke I could tell someone something and tell them what book to go to and read about, now I can’t comprehend what I am reading and I get frustrated and cry. Everyone please add me to your prayer list.
Meditate on the promises of God that you want God to do for you. That will not only help you remember them, but you’ll be feeding your faith for Him to fulfill them for you.
Remember that God’s Word says that His promises are “yes and amen to the glory of God by us.” There are NO Scriptures that teach, “God answers all prayers– ‘yes’, ‘no’ or ‘wait’. That’s a lie. Jesus said, “If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.” Meditation on His promises will strengthen your faith to believe for what you need. Nothing is impossible with God, or more accurately translated, “No word is void of power.”
Remember, the devil comes not but to kill, steal and destroy. It is the accuser who stands between you and your answer. Trust God and believe His promises.
i have been in that black hole and there realised i need a savior. thank God for rescuing me. my unsaved unemployed husbnd is in that place and blames and badmouth me to his fam who echoes that i have broken his spirit
[…] However, if one doesn’t recognize one is broken in spirit, they don’t realize it can cause one to not hear like as in Exodus 6:9. Here is a neat link to an article that addresses broken spirits. How awesome that God considers a broken spirit a sacrifice that God will accept!! I am made whole again when my spirit is nourished by Holy Spirit either by Himself or through His Body. https://theworksofgod.com/2011/02/24/do-you-have-a-broken-spirit/ […]
Thank you. Your words have been blessed by the power of God, still resonating several years later, alive and sharper than any two edged sword. I needed and receive the words so sincerely expressed.
My spirit is broken. Sometimes i think that God has forgotten about me. I feel so lost and so alone. My marriage is in trouble and I am wondering if God wants it to break up.
My brain was damaged as a young child; I never saw a doctor for it. This was done by my own mother; I resent and blame her for all my emotional/mental issues. I never had anyone to talk to about it my whole life. I don’t know how to let go of things and move forward. My mind and heart are definitely broken. Everyone thinks I’m crazy, but I don’t get to choose my environment.
Hi my name is lela. I am currently going through a divorce and outside of the house of God I Smile but once I get on the church ground my spirit isn’t the same. I love Deeply and Truly but I don’t show it. What is wrong and how can I get my joyous spirit back like I had before I got married?
Lela, I know somewhat how you are feeling. I had an argument with my significant other because I found out he was cheating on me. Before that I was totally in love with my Holy Spirit. After that I don’t have what I used to have for my Holy Spirit. I know my Spirit Is broken and I trying to get that love back. I am note as happy as I used to be.
This brought life to me! I have no words to express my gratitude and relief at receiving words to describe what my reality has been: Broken spirit!
Thanks for posting! God bless you
Thank you! Needed this very truth going through rough waters…really so out of my control and hard..God is bigger. Thanks. Cuz I never imagined id go through something so hard. Bless you ..God is,sovereign and works beyond us.
Reblogged this on Philosophies of a Disenchanted Scholar and commented:
A lot of people in our time could be considered broken.
I don’t know what to make of it.
Thank you for sharing, i was Blessed by that.
The health, wealth, and prosperity preachers are part of the reason people have lost their hopes.
I have a broken spirit myself because for so many extremely difficult things that I’ve had to go through not my own over the past 11 years or more. I know JESUS as there for me but I didn’t have anyone else and it was really hard because I wouldn’t allow myself to open up to the LORD because of all of the pain and hard stuff I went through.
*because of *on my own *JESUS was there
Thankyou for sharing your understanding of the Father’s Word, I needed the encouragement of knowing that He loves me and all I need to do is have Faith in
His Word because He loves me. Blessings
I have really enjoyed hearing the truth and studying the Holy Scriptures with Jehovah Gods’ people, ESPECIALLY in a format that I can understand easily! It’s GREAT!! 😀
i know he can fix anything but am i sick for a reason i just don’t understand?
What helped me was a free Bible study with Gods’ people (Jehovah’s Witnesses). Just visit JW.org and request a Bible study in your area and they will come to you at a time that suits…
There is also some great articles and videos you can browse through that really get to the point of what God thinks about with regards to our well being and they are all free to download…
Matthew 10:8b,
You received free, give free.
Take care and I hope this helps you?
😀😀😀
God showed me a little more than 3 years ago that I have a broken heart. After a time, I was almost overjoyed that I had actually come to the realization that I was hearing from him. But now, I don’t really know what a broken heart is (nor did I then), and I’m struggling to remain in the realm of reality. I told God that I’ve lost hope of change. I’ve tried ‘faith’, tried to do battle against the enemy(ies) of my soul. I just don’t know what to do anymore.
What helped me was a free Bible study with Gods’ people (Jehovah’s Witnesses). Just visit JW.org and request a Bible study in your area and they will come to you at a time that suits…
There is also some great articles and videos you can browse through that really get to the point of what God thinks about with regards to our well being and they are all free to download…
Matthew 10:8b,
You received free, give free.
Take care and I hope this helps you?
😀😀😀
Your message about crushed Spirit came at a time that I needed to hear. As tears roll down my face , I thank you for this.
Thanks. This has helped a lot?!
What helped me was a free Bible study with Gods’ people (Jehovah’s Witnesses). Just visit JW.org and request a Bible study in your area and they will come to you at a time that suits…
There is also some great articles and videos you can browse through that really get to the point of what God thinks about with regards to our well being and they are all free to download…
Matthew 10:8b,
You received free, give free.
Take care and I hope this helps you?
😀😀😀
I have a broken spirit. It came about by all of the abuse, neglect, and hurt growing up. a As result it made me a very anger and bitter man. Being that I am a man, I don’t have the freedom to express my full emotion as it’s not considered manly to do so. Other will say that you’re weak. This includes men and women. I don’t want want to live the rest of my life being miserable like this.
What helped me was a free Bible study with Gods’ people (Jehovah’s Witnesses). Just visit JW.org and request a Bible study in your area and they will come to you at a time that suits…
There is also some great articles and videos you can browse through that really get to the point of what God thinks about with regards to our well being and they are all free to download…
Matthew 10:8b,
You received free, give free.
Take care and I hope this helps you?
😀😀😀
I have been facing so much, that I don’t know sometimes if God loves me anymore. In 2006, I lost my dog, my father was diagnosed with a brain tumor, I lost my job and my home, my husband started cheating on me, I had a hysterectomy, gained 60 lbs and began to spiral into a depression. (All of this was within 1 years time.)
In 2008, My husband’s company decided they were moving to Texas. While my husband was helping his company move to Arlington, he decided to date 5 other people, some he worked with. We are no longer married, not because I divorced him, but because he wanted me to act as if he had never done these things and I needed time to heal. I was truly hurt. When I needed him the most he bailed out on me and started seeing other people. He filed for divorce in 2010.
In 2010, I went to work for my mother thinking it would be good to be around family at this time. It has been one nightmare after another. Everything you can do to someone has been done. I have been set up, stabbed in the back, lied about, belittled, fired, hired back, put in jail & accused of stealing and much more …(then repeat this about 3 times a year except for being put in jail. That only happened once, but she did try several times.) This went on for several years until 2015 until I had no money left to fall back on. When I was put in jail by my own mother, it was a rude awakening for sure!! The judge dropped all charges against me and advised I stay far away from my mother.
At this point, I had already lost the apartment I had, because of being fired for months at a time, and I could no longer get back on my feet. I became homeless. I had been homeless for 1.5 years until the VA could help me find housing. I was living out of my car and signed up to take a course for a CDL license to get off the streets for the winter. They put me in a hotel and fed me as I learned to drive an 18 wheeler.
While driving I came down with a bacterial infection and pnuemonia because of the filthy gross condition of the trucks and the trainers. I could no longer drive because I was too sick. I left and went to a shelter where they helped me get medical attention. I stayed there for about 5 months. It took 5 months for me to heal from the pnuemonia. Then one day the shelter administrator decided to let a man sleep in the woman’s wing in the women’s room because he said he felt like he was a woman on the inside. I packed my stuff and left the shelter and began to live in my car again.
The VA finally contacted me, I have been in VA housing for 9 months now, and I have never been so hurt, broken and alone in my entire life.
2 things I know for a fact that God spoke to me and I ignored: 1). Do NOT marry that man, you are unequally yoked together. 2). Irradicate the relationship with your mother out of your life, because she only means you harm.
My rebellion against these 2 things has cost me dearly. There is much more to this, but that is a condensed version. Now, I am trying to forgive and to ask for forgiveness and to forgive myself. Forgiving myself and receiving God’s forgiveness is the hardest thing I have ever done.
The Lord says, “Obedience is better than sacrifice.” It has been 17 years since I married the wrong person in 2000, and 8 years since God told me to remove someone out of my life that only meant me harm. These are years I will never get back. I am struggling with depression and guilt.
Really blessed!