Recognition in the Breaking
We all face many trials in our life. Most trials are short lived and are often resolved in a day or two. But sometimes we get hit with a situation that just seems to be like a punch in the stomach that takes our breath away. It could be job related (broken pride), the sudden illness of you or a loved one (a broken body), the struggle of a financial crises (a "broke" bank account), or most frequently, the pain of a broken relationship (a broken heart).
Many questions are asked about why would a loving God allow these types of breaks in our life. I can't answer why to all of them, but today I will give you a reason why some are allowed. Often we get so caught up in our own world that we begin to trust in our personal abilities to resolve our day to day trials. We become fully dependent on ourselves to defend the punches of life that are thrown at us. Sometimes we don't recognize that Jesus is with us-- until there is a break.
I mentioned the word punch for a purpose. I do believe that certain difficult situations that we encounter feel like a punch in the stomach or even the head at times. I have spoken with, or e-mailed, several of you that have received such punches in your life. I do have encouragement for you that have been in the boxing ring of life.
Learning how to take a punch and to keep fighting is essential. I'm not talking about taking just a jab that stings a little. I mean a strong left hook that comes out of nowhere when you least expect it. A punch that makes you fall to the mat. You're down, and you really don't want to get up and fight anymore. You ask yourself, "Why fight on? Where can I get the strength to continue?" If you have never felt such a punch, you may be set up for a KO (knock-out) and cry out, "No more!". You just give up.
This reminds me a little of the boxer Roberto Duran. He was famous for years as the best boxer in his weight division. That was until one match when he met up with Sugar Ray Leonard in November 1980. Sugar Ray punched him with such a blow that Duran fell to the mat. In all his days of fighting, he had never taken such a punch. He didn't know how to handle it because it had never happened before. This famous boxer then made a choice that will always be a part of his legacy. He told the referee, "No mas, no mas." Duran wanted no more.
Many of you have received such a punch that life gives every once in a while. The good news that I have for you is that you have become a fighter. You've taken the KO punch but instead of giving up, you fight on. You asked yourself, "Where can I get the strength to continue?" Just then, you hear within your spirit, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12: 9 NIV) You recognize Jesus in your brokeness. Sometimes it takes a breaking for us to recognize that the Lord is there to strengthen us.
This is why the Apostle Paul goes on to tell us in this very same passage that, "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties." I especially like the next sentence that Paul tells us here in verse 10. You may remember singing about it as a child.
Jesus loves me! This I know,
for the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong;
They are weak, but He is strong.
Paul goes on to tell us at the end of verse 10, "For when I am weak, then I am strong." The Grace of Christ will give you the sufficient power to fight on. Just recognize that He is there in your brokeness. Like I said earlier, He is right there with us, but we don't recognize Him until the breaking.
In the Book of Luke 24: 13-34, the Bible tells us about a walk to the town of Emmaus. Two followers of Jesus were walking toward Emmaus talking to each other about the terrible crucifixion that had taken place only three days earlier. They were in a state of weakness, hardship, and difficulty. The Bible goes on to tell us in verse 15, "As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him." You may be asking, "Now how can a person that has walked with the Lord not recognize Him in a difficult time in their life?"
Jesus, not being recognized, goes on to ask them in verse 17, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?' They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him (Jesus), 'Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?' "What things?", Jesus asked."
The two men began to explain to Jesus about the man called Jesus of Nazareth. They told Jesus that this man was "a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people." (Verse 19) The men went on to tell that this very morning some of their women went to the tomb to find it empty. Jesus began to explain to the two men about all the things that the prophets had predicted in the Scriptures about the Christ to come. They still did not recognize Jesus.
The men listened intently as they approached Emmaus. The day was about over so the men asked Jesus if He would stay the night with them. The story gets better here. The Bible says in verses 28-32, "So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, 'Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?"
Sometimes we don't recognize that Jesus is with us until there is a break. If you are going through any break in your life, recognize that Jesus is with you. Ask Him for the strength to endure the trial. His Grace and power is sufficient. Amen.
Robby
