When There's a Crack

I flew out to San Diego days before the kids left town for their well deserved R&R.  Alongside my daughter, I learned the routine of the household so that the transition would be an easy one when the “changing of the guard” took place.  My daughter posted instructions on the computer lest I forget which days I must water and when the garbage truck comes. 

I reviewed the written reminders.  My eyes dropped down to paragraph three, “In case of an earthquake…”

I peeked out the window, past the front yard into the street-- the designated safe place.  The plants, homes, gardens looked lovely!  But I believe in earthquakes and that all it takes for this perfect scene to come crashing down is a crack underneath the foundation where no one sees.

Sometimes we Christians have cracks.  Where do cracks come from?  They come from broken spirits leaving us wounded.  How does this happen?

Wounds come to us this way:

1.    We sin, ask the Lord to forgive us, but can’t get passed it to receive His forgiveness & freedom.

2.    We inherit them.

3.    Something was done to us

We are amazed when a powerful Christian leader falls prey to scandal and wonder how this can be when we’ve seen his amazing ministry.

In our own lives we may vow never to mistreat others the way we have been mistreated and all of a sudden we find ourselves abusing someone.  

Why?

Brokenness Where No One Sees

We can look so good on the outside all spruced up even going to church every week, praying, worshiping, studying and ministering.  Unfortunately, we can have a crack underneath the surface.   A wound is the crack in our spirit.

When that happens, it affects every relationship closest to us:

 our marriage,

 our family, 

friendships,

 co-workers or team work.

How do I know if I have a broken spirit?

What is the root of a broken spirit?

The root of a broken spirit is rejection, abandonment, broken relationships, greatly criticized, abused physically, verbally, sexually or racially. 

Drum roll…Here’s the Answer!

The answer is Jesus our Savior, our Healer, our Deliverer, our Redeemer.  Isaiah 61 proclaims that Jesus set the captives free.  He took every spec of brokenness upon Himself at the cross so we can be free!

  

By His death, Jesus took our shame and dishonor giving us a double share of honor and joy everlasting!

That is good news for us who believe in Him, repent of our sins and receive His promises!

The Spirit of God, the Master, is on me
    because God anointed me.
He sent me to preach good news to the poor,
    heal the heartbroken,
Announce freedom to all captives,
    pardon all prisoners.
God sent me to announce the year of his grace—
    a celebration of God’s destruction of our enemies—
    and to comfort all who mourn,
To care for the needs of all who mourn in Zion,
    give them bouquets of roses instead of ashes,
Messages of joy instead of news of doom,
    a praising heart instead of a languid spirit.
Rename them “Oaks of Righteousness”
    planted by God to display his glory.

Isaiah 61:1-3