Beloved, today our word is break. Yesterday, we examined the word broken and how God uses broken people. A break is defined as a verb to separate or cause to separate into pieces due to a blow, shock, or strain; as a noun, an interruption of continuity or uniformity or a pause in work. Sweet friend, the word break is in the Bible in the King James Version 167 times.

On my trip to Budapest in 1999, I was in a china store and knocked a teacup off the shelf with my backpack. This teacup became my souvenir. I thought I would repair the cup when I carefully packed the cup to make the trip home, but I never did; the break in the cup represented how I felt then. Why was I in Budapest? I went with my church to Tata, Hungary. We were there as children’s teachers to teach children during a missionary conference. We cared for the children while the missionary men and women attended classes. Yesterday, I shared God uses broken people; He used me during this time. I was broken. I was overweight, unhappy in my marriage, and struggling with my job. My oldest son married in 1996, and I reeled with the empty nest syndrome. So the break in the cup represented my life. Yet God was using me as a children’s leader. How is God using you in your life?

Have you experienced a break in a relationship? or a break in confidence? or a break in a working relationship?

King David also struggled; he was in danger from King Saul. Read this Psalm with me, and we see our word break in verse five.

Psalm 141

141 Lord, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee.

² Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

³ Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.

⁴ Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practice wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties.

⁵ Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities.

⁶ When their judges are overthrown in stony places, they shall hear my words; for they are sweet.

⁷ Our bones are scattered at the grave’s mouth, as when one cutteth and cleaveth wood upon the earth.

⁸ But mine eyes are unto thee, O God the Lord: in thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute.

⁹ Keep me from the snares they have laid for me and the gins of the workers of iniquity.

¹⁰ Let the wicked fall into their nets, while I withal escape.

Thoughts

What I love about King David is that he speaks from the heart and tells it like it is. God gives us peace that passes all understanding. In Isaiah 61, God gives us beauty for ashes. He gives us so much love to the brokenhearted. Daily, I try to walk with God. Somedays, I could do it better. but I do trust God. Remember, God is good all the time, and all the time, God is good.

We need to walk in repentance and forgiveness.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him; Daniel 9:9

But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses. Mark 11:26

Beloved, I am healing; many of my emotions are no longer raw, strangling me or immobilizing me. Daily, I can pray for and help to hurt people. Yet, sometimes their needs are overwhelming. Perhaps, you know what I am talking about when those surrounding you are breaking. Sometimes like King David, all we can do is pray.

I have suffered and overcame a break in our personal relationship. God healed my marriage. However, I had friendships end due to a break, and I realized that sometimes we have friends for seasons. Regarding my career, in each situation where I changed jobs, God was instrumental in giving me a better job even though, at the time, it was a sometimes painful choice to move on.

Sweet friend, we can count on God. He will never leave us or forsake us.

Prayer

Father God,

Often I feel like the cup as it fell off the shelf breaking; I have many breaks in my soul that You have sent the balm of Gilead. Lord, You answer my prayers often, as I don’t expect. You are my redeemer, the lifter of my head. No matter what I am struggling with, You are with and care about me. I am in awe of Your majesty. Thank You for Your word that it is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path, in Jesus’s name, Amen

Reflection

What vacation brings back memories?

How is God using you today?