A Broken Spirit
Have you ever had a broken spirit?
It is a lonely road to walk alone, except you are not alone with Jesus beside you.
It is a difficult path to cross and not know how to help someone. We can pray for or with them, be encouraging and yet, there are days when it isn’t enough to give even a smile or offer a kind word, especially if your own spirit is broken.
I believe our hearts are broken by the message of salvation, of what Jesus did for us, and hopefully, the experience really gets deep within.
I am not to judge who is or isn’t saved, only to recognize the fruit, and for many believers, it just hasn’t soaked in – the depths of His love. Too often, the world and the enemy are distractions.
“The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit.
Psalm 51:17 NLT
You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.”
It is just too easy for some to give up or to give in; to think prayers aren’t answered or to be strong in Him as we wait.
Disappointment, discouragement and disparaging remarks that voice the opinion of the enemy will try to deceive and while the enemy evades the truth, the truth is that some people are just hurtful. Even cruel.
So what is a believer to do about a broken spirit?
Answer: Depend on the Holy Spirit.
There are situations I know I could not have dealt with without Him, and more still that only God can. He is able when I am not.
“The spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness, But who can bear a broken spirit?”
Proverbs 18:14 NKJV
Being tired at the end of the day is normal, but being spiritually drained beyond exhaustion isn’t.
There is a “good” tired, after a fulfilling endeavor or accomplishing several tasks at work or home. But then there is the barely getting by that is not what God desires for His children.
He wants us to have joy. Nehemiah 18:10 reminded the people to feast and that the Lord’s joy is our strength.
Every day may not be a feast day or one of fasting, but there is Jesus, our manna from heaven.
So, in a way, it is. And as He told the disciples in reference to His resurrection, what is true of His coming for believers, then no one takes our joy because He is it!
“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.”
Proverbs 17:22 NLT
Job laments about his spirit being broken, and Isaiah explains that God will break the spirit of those who don’t serve Him.
Spiritual warfare and oppression are two causes, and obviously disobedience, but there is also temper and not controlling with the Lord’s help.
“Like a city that is broken into and without walls So is a person who has no self-control over his spirit.”
Proverbs 25:28 NASB
The Bible sometimes interchanges the word spirit with the word heart.
We are like God in spirit, but we also have an earthly body. This is the reason why He sent Jesus to go through all He did as both human and God. We also have a soul which is made up of our minds, our wills, and our emotions.
The Holy Spirit is mingled with our spirit and we should submit to God, because our minds and emotions are contending with our spirit. He knows when we are repentant and remaining in His love.
“For all those things My hand has made, And all those things exist,” Says the LORD. “But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, And who trembles at My word.” Isaiah 66:2 NKJV
Isaiah 66:2 NKJV
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”
Psalm 147:3 ESV
Isn’t this a wonderful verse about a wonderful Lord?
Isaiah 9:6 calls Him wonderful. And He even appears to Manoah’s wife, Hazeleponi, her traditional Jewish name, as it is not in the Bible and says His name is secret, the Hebrew translates it as wonderful.
He has new life hidden for us in Him but sometimes we must wait for Him to make it so in a more beautiful way or time. Jesus quotes this in Matthew 12:20.
“He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle. He will bring justice to all who have been wronged.”
Isaiah 42:3 NLT
Our spirits are the flicker, the wick, those spirits who are turning to the sinful life are called wicked, it is where the word comes from.
Proverbs 20:27 calls our spirit the candle of the Lord. He is our peace and protection, and He understands the bruising and crushing, the heartache and pain more than anyone. He binds our wounds with His, Isaiah 53.
Please let me pray for you today, I know this feeling, I have dealt with, I have experienced it even recently.
Father, many of us are broken and contrite before you, accused and wronged. We are not seeking vengeance, not walking in pride, and yet our hearts are broken, our spirits crushed. But you yourself are our peace, healer and protector. Stir the fresh fire of your gift within us as we await you and answers to prayer, in Jesus name.
“This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you.”
2 Timothy 1:6 NLT
Closing thoughts…
For additional study, read 2 Peter 3:1. This verse talks about the Lord’s return as people scoff and as where His promises are. They question His return, but He will and it is closer than ever.
Those professing to be believers should be looking into their hearts. Thank you Jesus for binding our wounds.
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