Sometimes God brings the broken as consequence to our sin.
“David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die. Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the Lord, the child who is born to you shall die.”...David therefore sought God on behalf of the child. And David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground...On the seventh day the child died.”
2 Samuel 12:13-14, 16, 18
Sometimes God brings the broken even though we walk upright, in His righteousness, avoiding evil.
“And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” “Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord."..."There came a messenger to Job that said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house...and behold, a great wind came across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” Job 1:8-12, 18-19
Sure, Satan "prowls around like a roaring lion waiting to devour", but he can't even step to our circumstances unless God invites him. Regardless of the specific, personal reasons why God brings the broken, the eternal reason remains the same. His supremacy. His glory.
“But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, David understood that the child was dead. And David said to his servants, “Is the child dead?” They said, “He is dead.” Then David arose from the earth and washed and anointed himself and changed his clothes. And he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped.”
2 Samuel 12:19-20
David's son was dead because of HIS sin. Yet, he worshipped.
“Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.” Job 1:20-22
Job walked a blameless life before the Lord and avoided evil, but the Lord handed over all he had to Satan. His possessions AND all of his children. Yet, he worshipped.
Their decision to worship God in the midst of the broken was their way of "thanking God for breaking their heart". Who really does that?? Who actually WANTS a broken heart?? Truth...no one does. No one wants it, yet it's unavoidable. We either have had, currently have, or will have a broken heart. We don't have to want it, but we have to decide how we're going to handle it once it's been given to us.
No matter what broken God chooses to bring our way, no matter why He chooses to bring it, may we remind ourselves of the ultimate why...so that He can bring His purpose to pass in this world. HIS purpose. Not our purpose, or the purpose of other people, but His.
Others may not understand why we respond to the broken the way we do...we may endure to the end, or we may wave the white flag and sit down from the fight. Either way, God is not taken by surprise, and thankfully His glory is not dependent on the way we choose to respond. "Every day ordained for me was written in His book before even one of them came to be", and "the Lord will accomplish His purpose for me.". The sinful behavior, the righteous behavior...He knows it all. His world, His purpose, His glory when He brings the broken.
