Anchored Through Deep Waters: Broken

Here is the devotional:

How many times have we heard the concept of being broken is the perfect position for a miracle? I hate to burst your bubble, but that is not totally true. Now, being broken can be an avenue for a miracle, but I believe the position for the miracle is in surrender. The process of being broken will test your faith. It is the people that chose to recognize they are breaking and chose to give everything to God that see the supernatural happen. God doesn’t need anything from us to do the supernatural, but when we give of ourselves we can see just how God cares about our heart. He is constantly molding us! Depression can bring such a feeling of brokenness and helplessness. It is when you chose to surrender the hurt and sorrow to God that we can start seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Now, some of you have maybe been clinically diagnosed with mood disorders or personality disorders. Do not think that you are exempt from this. God knows your diagnosis and is not swayed because of it! Diagnosis can cause us to think that they are our identity, but to God, it is just a name for the way your brain wonderfully thinks differently than others.

Just look at the story where Jesus feeds the five thousand. Many people think this is just a miracle…but I see it as a lesson, not just to trust God to provide, but a teaching of bringing what you have before the Lord. God doesn’t need us, but He choses to use us! In your depression, God can use it for amazing things. When I was drowning in depression and anxiety I wanted to give up on life, but now I see that God took my helplessness and made me whole. Not only was I restored, but I was equipped and here I am writing to you!

I know it may be hard, but just imagine what God will do with your testimony and journey through depression. Maybe you will write about it. Maybe you will speak about it. Perhaps you will be an intercessor. All I know is our world needs to hear real stories of real struggles and a real God that can turn it around.

God, use my brokenness for something greater. Use my depression and struggles for something big. Help me see the light at the end of the tunnel, for it is there that I will see the miraculous. I have hope.

Here are the scriptures referenced:

When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities.

And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.

And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals.

But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat.

And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.

He said, Bring them hither to me.

And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.

And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.

And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.
Matthew 14:13‭-‬21 KJV

Here are Stu’s thoughts:

I can honestly agree with the author in the fact that is it is in the surrender that miracles happen.

I know for a fact that the brokenness is the point we must get to, usually, to realize that we are indeed in need of a Savior! But just being broken will not cause a change to place in your life nor the issue at hand. It is in that humbled moment where we cry out to God and just give it all to him!

The authors thoughts on feeding the multitude is not one I have thought of. Have any of you seen it this way before?

The disciples brought what they had and the Lord blessed it and multiplied it! Think about that for a minute or two.

Have you ever been a listening ear to a conversation and saw the proverbial light come on in someone? I have on numerous occasions.

One of those occasions was when I went to visit Angie for the weekend and I stopped by the coffee shop she managed to wait for her get off work.

It was one of those moments that made me love her even more. She was sharing her story, what she had, to another woman who had just lost her son. Both women were in tears by the end of the conversation but I saw that look. Angie didn’t notice it until I shared it with her afterwards.

God used Angie’s son Matthew to comfort a complete stranger who just “happened” to come into the coffee shop right at closing. God took what Angie had, her story, and multiplied it.

After the conversation and we closed up the shop Angie asked if I was upset. I said are you kidding me?!? I just witnessed God use you to give this woman hope after losing her son.

Over the years I have witnessed Angie sharing her brokenness over losing Matthew and giving hope to others. She gives hope because she never gave up on God. Granted she questioned him from time to time. but she never gave up on him

Some of my darkest times have been shared and helped other men realize that freedom can be had! God has multiplied what I had…my story.

No matter what you are going through at this moment God will use it for his glory just as he did with the fish and the loaves of bread.

You may feel broken right now just do not give up on the answer to your brokenness. For he loves you and has great plans for your life. Trust him!!