Breaking and Blessing

As I look back on life, I realize that people who have experienced brokenness and loss in their lives are more open to recognize the many blessings of life. As an Oncology Nurse for sixteen years, I witnessed the many stages of sufferings and trials in the lives of others; physical, mental, and spiritual. I have seen the process cancer patients go through as they face diagnosis, treatment, years of survival, and end of life situations. When lives are interrupted and broken, such as in the lives of cancer patients, individual mortality is faced and life’s values are prioritized. Most individuals and families come to recognize the important things in life and the things which are no longer important. The trivial concerns previously worried about are not an issue any more. Loved ones and small blessings become main concerns. Mortality, eternity, purpose, ultimate destiny, and God are questioned. The breaking of life, as it was known, produces an awareness of the blessings of life.

Human nature tends to take so much for granted. The more aware we become of our inadequacies, weaknesses, and inability to control circumstances, the more we look outside of ourselves for life’s answers. Many people never search and just hold on to their own logic and presumed self importance and strength; but God has promised that if we look for Him, we will find Him (Matthew 7:7).

God is able to bless us abundantly when we receive Him and appreciate even the small humble blessings which we have been given (Ephesians 3: 20). An example of a Blessing in which God took a small portion and turned it into a large portion is found in the story of the loaves and fishes in Matthew 14: 13-21. The little boy’s fishes and loaves were not enough, but Jesus performed a miraculous blessing by multiplying the food into more than enough to feed five thousand of His followers. Jesus did this so that the people who did not believe, would see, believe, and then go to tell others. For the disciples and already believing followers, the miracle increased their faith. When we begin with a small amount and we truly believe for God to answer our prayers, His Blessings and answered prayer will increase our faith and cause those who are watching our witness to believe. Our need could be material or spiritual. When we pray, believing, He will supply our needs according to His riches in Glory in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4: 19).

Have you ever been broken? There are many ways to experience brokenness. A home can be broken. A heart can be broken. Hopes and dreams can be broken. When we face any loss in our lives, we feel broken. A loss can be that of a job, a relationship, finances, health, or the life of a loved one. No one escapes facing one or more of these situations in life’s journey. Read the books of Job and Ecclesiastes in the Old Testament. When one is going through a time of pain, trial, or suffering it seems as if no one understands or knows the same pain. King Solomon in Ecclesiastes states that “everything is meaningless” under the sun. Ecclesiastes 1: 3 and 4, says “What does man gain from all his labor at which he toils under the sun? Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever”. Verse 10 says, “What has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun”. The book of Ecclesiastes can be very depressing but it shows us the reality that others have been, or will be in the future, where we are in our pain. Misery wants to be understood. During my personal time of suffering I found out that only God truly knew the depth of my pain. He was walking with me and I would continue to walk with Him just like Job did. Now, thirty years since the death of two of my children, I realize that holding on to God and the promises in his Word have brought me into a faith which I would never have known if I hadn’t had to walk through my suffering and brokenness. God multiplies the blessings in our lives through the process of breaking.

God does permit times of brokenness in each of our lives. During these periods we must reflect on our present situation, make the choice to overcome our trial, hold on to God, and move forward physically and spiritually in life. I have a sincere appreciation for all of the blessings which God has given to Richard and me. I remained thankful during my times of loss and lack so that God could bless me with more than enough. I will continue to live with an attitude of gratitude. The Kingdom of God is NOW and I live in His presence. I live in expectation of that which He still has planned for my life as I travel my earthly journey and know that I will spend eternity with Him and my loved ones. 1 John 5: 13 gives me that assurance. I know God as my Father. I hope that if you don’t have a personal relationship with Him, my testimony and writings will introduce Him to you. I hope you check out some of the Bible books and passages which I have noted so you can see for yourself the things which God, through His Word, has taught me.