Brokenness is a word that is widely used by individuals. The Cambridge English Dictionary defines brokenness as “a state of strong emotional pain that stops someone from living a normal or healthy life.” It gives the example, “I acknowledged my brokenness and my need for healing.”
However, the Bible refers to brokenness as being “so crushed by the darkness of the world that we recognize there is no place to turn but to God.” It is wonderful to be able to seek God for help whenever we experience brokenness in our lives.
The Psalmist gives us biblical insight into what brokenness really is. It says, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirt.” Another Psalms expresses this way: “My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.”
The Cambridge English Dictionary definition of brokenness can be applied to the many recent worldly horrific occurrences as can the Bible’s description of the world as “in a dark place.” The world is in a dark place when a young girl is shot and killed because the driver of the car she is riding in pulls into the wrong driveway. Or when a young cheerleader is shot and left with serious injuries after she mistakenly opened a car door that she thought was her own. Or when a young boy is shot twice and severely injured after he rang the wrong doorbell looking for his brother who was playing with a neighborhood friend.
These senseless and unnecessary shootings of young people are a reminder that the world is in a dark place. These are just a few of the horrific and tragic incidents that occur in this country every day. We live in a time where people are afraid for their safety.
Those who shoot people without cause are broken people. God said, “The broken in the O God, is a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart.” Those who commit hideous and horrible crimes have a broken spirit and contrite heart. These people need to come to God, who is the only one who can repair the brokenness they are experiencing. It is God who can turn a dark place into a world of light and hope. So Never Give Up! Never Give Up! Never Give Up!
By Dr. Walter Ghosten
chaplain@lhp.net
