When We're Broken

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 Often we expect perfection of ourselves, and it is a heavy burden to bear. I am a sinner...saved by grace...but still living in the flesh and fighting it daily. One thing I continue to learn is that God can use my brokenness. Psalm 51 is a beautiful example of brokenness. Written after Nathan the prophet came to David and confronted him with his own sin of adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband and his hypocrisy, it reveals why David is described as a man after God's own heart. Even though he had committed gross sins, David flings himself on the mercy of God and asks Him to be gracious to him not on his own merit, but on God's lovingkindness and compassion (v. 1). Like most of us when we sin, David's sin was "ever before" him (v. 3), but he realized that God was the one he had offended and held the right to judge him (v. 4).  He acknowledges that we are ALL born sinners (v. 5), but God desires for us to see ourselves as we are (i.e. "You desire truth in the innermost being" v. 6). God is the one who does the work of purification (v. 7) ; He cleans us up, makes us "desire to hear joy and gladness" and brings joy from the pain (v. 8). David asks that God "hide" His face from his sins and "blot out all my iniquities" (v.9).  David gets that he is broken and that God is his only hope of salvation. That is the point where God can begin using us. He creates a clean heart in us, renews (or creates) a steadfast spirit within us (v. 10), and see us as worthy because of what Jesus has done for us through His blood and in us through the Spirit (v. 11). At this point David asks for something amazing to occur--joy! When we mess up, it is often hard for us to escape the pain of our sin. David asks God to restore the joy of salvation and sustain a willing spirit within him (v. 12). God can restore the brokenness if we confess our sins (see I Jn. 1:9).

The next word in the Psalm is "Then."  It indicates that something came before...God's restoration led to David's usefulness. He says, "Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners will be converted to you" (v. 13) and after God's salvation, "Then my tongue will joyfully sing of Your righteousness" (v. 14). God can use our brokenness just as He used David's.  Here is the rest of David's prayer in Psalm 51--may you find encouragement in it today, as I have:

"O Lord, open my lips, that my mouth may praise. For you do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise, I would give it; You are not pleased with burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise" (v. 15-17).  

David concludes with a prayer for Jerusalem, which is needed today in our world: "By your favor do good to Zion; build the walls of Jerusalem. Then You will delight in righteous sacrifices..." (v. 18-19a).

God is at work in and around us. Don't let your brokenness keep you from Him. Let him use it instead for His glory!

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