Does He break us, to fix us?

“Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” (Deuteronomy 6:5, NIV)

Once this was in place -- firmly ensconced in the fabric of my soul -- there became a proverbial automatic desire to seek God and all that He has for me. I say this not to speak on behalf of mankind, but rather speaking of my own experience(s). When I was living my life prior to God becoming the central figure and primary source of all my direction, I was merely living with no known purpose. This changed however when my acceptance of Jesus Christ occurred –- happening from within.

I say this to mean just that: the acceptance of Christ felt as though it happened from within; like something I did not actively do as just a desperate attempt at saving myself. This is a process known as plenary, or, God-breathed, which is how many believe to be the inspiration in the Holy Scriptures. I was broken and sought materialistic means of salvation and fulfillment by a series of bad decisions. While alcohol may have been that primer, I by no means closed the door to other sin. Thus, accepting Jesus as my personal savior honestly felt like my soul crying out Him – not just my mouth.

Does God work towards moments that allow us to become broken? Perhaps He does not actively work towards those moments, but I think there are times He allows us to get the tools out and ‘fix it’ on our own –- knowing that we will ask for Him to take over in due course. Whether this is our moment of salvation or merely experiencing His grace, it by no means ends there for Him. Once we return to Him, or in the very least, acknowledge Him, He can then begin to lead our lives down the road He has prepared especially for us. That road may not literally be revealed to us through His voice, but rather through answered prayers or time spent in His Word.

However God ultimately chooses to speak to us, I believe we must extend our hands to Him, first. Then He then will respond and do the fixing –- based on where we are in life. I find evidence in this belief through listening to the testimonies of different people. We all have a testimony that speaks differently to the attention God showed us the very moment we needed and felt His presence. Have you forgotten yours? Hebrews 10:35 says, “So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.”