By Mary Wallace Wilson
I still anticipate seeing how God will work in our midst even after going to 29 years of Cru conferences! When I recently registered for Encounter, I saw that the theme this year is “broken #hope.” It seems the idea of “brokenness” has been in my path lately . . .
I have used Crawford Loritts book, Leadership As An Identity for our Women’s Council devotions. Crawford says that distinctively Christian leaders live from and lead with brokenness (among other characteristics). There was a time in my life when I couldn’t sing the stanza “Brokenness, brokenness is what I long for. Brokenness is what I need.” I felt like I was experiencing so much brokenness that I couldn’t take any more. And I surely wasn’t going to tell God that I longed for it OR that I needed it!
Check out what Crawford says:
Brokenness is a conscious, core awareness that you need God in all things. A broken person has come to realize that he is nothing and can do nothing apart from God’s presence and enabling power. (John 15:5) . . . For a Christian leader, brokenness is a dear friend, and pride is the enemy. When you are broken, you realize you cannot do it in your own power – you cannot earn salvation on your own, you cannot walk with God on your own, and you cannot fulfill God’s assignments on your own. P. 36
Brokenness is not a onetime event. It is never finished; it’s an ongoing process. P. 36
Sounds exciting, huh??!!! What about considering brokenness as a dear friend? I can’t say that I’m at the place where I consider brokenness as my dear friend, but I CAN say that I understand the benefit of brokenness in my life. That is to break my pride. Ouch. Brokenness does that to me every time. It reminds me that my greatest need in life is God. I can accomplish a lot in my own strength, but if the Holy Spirit isn’t empowering me, then my deeds are worthless.
Humility is where God wants me all the time and brokenness is a vessel that gets me to that place. Thankfully I can find my hope in God; He is always there for me! Let’s pray that God will speak to us at Encounter as clearly as He speaks to the students we recruit to come.
· How do you view brokenness? Is brokenness your dear friend?
· Think of a time when you have experienced brokenness. What did it feel like? How did you respond to those feelings?
· How did you experience God at that time?
How can you apply John 15:5 in your life?
“Whoever abides in me and I in him, it is he that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
