Renewal in the Midst of Brokenness

There is sometimes in our experience a place of despair – somewhere between the overwhelming circumstances of life and our own bad choices. It could be that we have done nothing wrong, or everything wrong. The storm of circumstance around us dredges up thoughts of inadequacy, and we measure ourselves against the storm rather than against the God who stands outside of it. We are filled with questions: How did this happen? How did I get here? Is God punishing me?

The Psalmist David knew this place well. In Psalm 139:23‑24 (The Message) he writes:

“Investigate my life, O God, find out everything about me; cross-examine and test me, get a clear picture of what I’m about; See for yourself whether I’ve done anything wrong—then guide me on the road to eternal life.”

In this place are feelings of isolation and overwhelming guilt. David describes it as a place of fear, disquieting thoughts, and volatile emotion – but also as an opportunity for careful self-examination: Is there any painful or grievous tendency in me? I need a clear view of the way forward (Ps. 139:24).

John Bunyan captured this place of the soul in his classic allegory Pilgrim’s Progress (1678). His “Slough of Despond” is an illusory deep bog in which the protagonist Christian sinks under the weight of sin and guilty conscience. Thomas (1964), in his modern paraphrase, describes it as the low ground where doubt, fear, and discouraging apprehension gather when a sinner first becomes awakened by the Holy Spirit and sees his own vile condition. The bog is a fitting image: one does not simply cross it – one settles into it.

Two truths stand in parallel:

First, the Bible speaks plainly and often about a real place of humility and despondency – a place of Brokenness. Second, when the Bible speaks of brokenness, it also speaks of God drawing near:

• Psalm 34:18 – The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
• Psalm 147:3 – He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds.
• John 12:24 – Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.

Brokenness is a real place – but we do not go there alone. And sometimes, reaching a breaking point is precisely what causes us to seek the Lord more sincerely.

What brings us there? It may be sin – and James 1:12‑15 (NKJV) is clear that God does not tempt anyone; it is our own desire that conceives sin; and sin, when full-grown, brings forth death. It is often sin that separates us from God and breaks our hearts, because in our spirit we long for Him to rule and reign (Matt. 6:33). Yet brokenness is not always the consequence of wrongdoing. Oswald Chambers, in My Utmost for His Highest, observed that, "To turn head faith into a personal possession is a fight always, not sometimes. God brings us into circumstances in order to exercise our faith" (Chambers, 1935). Simply living out our values in a fallen world can bring us to the breaking point.

There are things in us that need to be broken: pride, self-will, stubbornness, and sinful habits. God desires that we die to our old nature, and He does not leave us alone in that struggle: I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit (Isaiah 57:15). And Paul reminds us that the God who comforts us in our tribulation equips us to comfort others in theirs (2 Corinthians 1:3‑4).

At times we will find ourselves in this place of brokenness. If we bring a teachable and humble spirit, it can become a place of self-assessment, re-calibration, and renewal. Jesus’ first recorded sermon – the Sermon on the Mount – opens with a pattern that illuminates how that journey unfolds.

The Journey Inward: Four Movements of Brokenness (Matthew 5:3–6)

In the Beatitudes, Christ challenges His hearers to realign their expectations of God’s Kingdom. The first four verses map a journey that moves through brokenness toward renewal.

The Life of Renewal: Kingdom Expressions (Matthew 5:7–10)

But Jesus does not stop at verse 6. The Beatitudes continue, and what follows is not more inward journey – it is outward fruit. A person who has passed through the four movements of brokenness begins to look and live differently. Matthew 5:7–10 describes the visible marks of a renewed life:

• Mercy (v7): Having received mercy in our own brokenness, we become capable of genuine empathy for others in theirs. The renewed person no longer judges from a distance.
• Purity of Heart (v8): The emotional reckoning of brokenness produces clarity and integration – an undivided heart no longer pulled between self and God. To see God, one must first be done with pretense.
• Peacemaking (v9): The peace that passes understanding (Philippians 4:7) becomes both a possession and a practice. The renewed person carries and extends the shalom of God into fractured relationships.
• Perseverance under Pressure (v10): The one who has walked through brokenness and emerged in renewal has discovered that God is trustworthy. Setbacks no longer threaten their identity. They walk with humble confidence, even under opposition.

A Call to the Church: Embrace Brokenness

Paul writes to the church at Philippi with an urgent invitation (Philippians 2:3‑5, VOICE):

“Don’t let selfishness and prideful agendas take over. Embrace true humility, and lift your heads to extend love to others. Get beyond yourselves and protecting your own interests; be sincere, and secure your neighbors’ interests first. In other words, adopt the mind-set of Jesus the Anointed.”

And then Paul points to the ultimate example. Jesus – though in the form of God – chose not to cling to equality with God, but poured Himself out, took the form of a servant, humbled Himself to death on a cross, and was raised to the highest place (Philippians 2:6‑9). The path through brokenness to renewal is not a detour from the Christian life. It is the shape of it.

Let us today choose to join Jesus in that “poured out” place, and allow the Spirit of God to speak, comfort, and renew us. As the risen Christ called the church at Ephesus: Turn back to Me! (Revelation 2:5). Lord, do Your perfect work in me!

Sources:

Bunyan, J. (1678). The Pilgrim’s Progress. New York: Baker and Taylor.

Chambers, O. (1935). My Utmost for His Highest. New York: Dodd, Mead and Co.

Thomas, J. H. (1964). Pilgrim’s Progress in Today’s English. Chicago, IL: Moody Publishing.