Inspecting the Brokenness

Introduction: Bringing it Forward

In the previous article, I wrote about the discovery of personal brokenness. I walked you through the meaning of what it means to weep. I know that I wept when I discovered my friend’s personal brokenness. You can find that story in the first article of Weeping for the Broken. Today we are going to take a deeper look at going beyond the discovery of personal brokenness as we begin to inspect those places that are broken.

It’s Okay!

Did you know that it’s okay to inspect the broken parts of you and discover where they are broken? Notice that I didn’t say why. I briefly expressed the why in Weeping for the Broken – Part 2. Have you been told that a true Christian is never sad? Have you been told that you have not forgiven someone if you tell them that they hurt your feelings? Do not fear anyone who tells you these things. Right here in Nehemiah 2:2, we can clearly see that Nehemiah has already grieved and he is not able to bring his precious smile before the king as he is serving him.

Bring Your Burden Before the King of Kings

Here, Nehemiah praises the king and then expresses his burden. I remember when my friend was afraid as he was getting ready to go into surgery. I had called him at just the right time, and I was able to help him with his decision for Christ in that moment. I sang a song for him and asked him to make that decision that he had been putting off. We prayed together bringing his current burden before the King of Kings and he survived the surgery.

The Holy Spirit Goes Before You

In verse 7, Nehemiah asked the king if he would send letters to all the places that he needed to travel through on his way home to Jerusalem. The king did not spare anything to provide for his servant. In looking at this, I want to share with you a story. One day my car was broken down in a parking lot. I needed to call someone, but I did not have their phone number. So, I asked God if He would ask that person to call my phone. Can you imagine that within just a few minutes, that person called my phone, and I was able to get the help I needed.  That is what it is like when the Lord helps us. He sends out His Holy Spirit to the people that we will be in contact with. He grants us peace with them for safe travels through healing. He also makes sure that we will have what we need as we ask.  

The Army of Heaven is with You

As you begin your journey of healing and personal inspection, and you have brought your brokenness to God, He has not only granted you the Holy Spirit. He has provided an army of protection around you even if you cannot feel it or discern it. It is there! In verse 9, the king that Nehemiah served provided army officers and horsemen for Nehemiah’s protection. It was a wise and a good thing to do because as Nehemiah was on his way to inspect the brokenness of his home, we discover that two people were not happy about Nehemiah’s adventure. I’m sure you already know that there are people that are unhappy with you because you decided to address your brokenness. They see your decisiveness toward healing, and they are not for this kind of change in you.

Privacy During Inspection

Notice what Nehemiah does when he arrives home. He takes only a few handpicked people with him to inspect the broken places. He also expresses that he told not one person about the plans that God put in his heart for rebuilding and restoring Jerusalem. There is a time for everything and this time of inspecting the broken places in yourself is the time when you need to do so in private. That is when you can hear God’s voice instructing you as you come to each broken place. It’s not a time to expose or express it to others. If you have a licensed counselor who is helping you, this is part of that private process of inspecting your brokenness.

Be an Inspiration

Now notice in verses 16 -18 that Nehemiah announced his plans after he inspected the brokenness in private. He didn’t just make an announcement, though. He inspired the people present where the brokenness was, and they agreed that they were ready for the rebuilding of their home to begin. Let this beginning process of healing be an inspiration to everyone around you. I remember when my friend made his decision for Christ. He started watching inspirational shows on TV and he wanted to sing when I brought my family to visit.  Let your growth be inspirational to people in your community.

Opposition Against Rebuilding

Remember when I said that there were people who did not want to see Nehemiah rebuild Jerusalem? Here come those people again to oppose his inspiring announcement and to make him, and the newly inspired leaders, question this great decision that they have made. Opposition will certainly be present when you make the decision to rebuild and restore the brokenness in your life. This is where you learn to put on the Armor of God to stand against anyone who would keep you from doing what God is calling you to do for healing and restoration.

A Simple Rebuke

Anyone who is against you in your personal growth and healing and restoration is essentially acting as an enemy to you. I want you to know that God is preparing a table before you in the presence of your enemies, and He will not allow them to pull you away from the mission that He has already granted you. Listen to what Nehemiah says to those opposers. He says, “The God of Heaven will help us succeed. We, His servants, will start rebuilding this wall. But you have no share, legal right, or historic claim in Jerusalem.” It is okay to remind people who are speaking against you that they don’t have that kind of authority over you or even a share in those things concerning your healing process. Always be kind and gentle even if they are not.

Conclusion

Always remember that brokenness is a personal thing. It’s okay to be sad sometimes. It’s okay to tell someone that they hurt you and to seek restoration of relationship. That is not an act of unforgiveness. It is an act of rebuilding and restoring relationship. So, bring your burden before the King of Kings and He will supply you with what you need to get started and will be with you through the whole process of healing. Remember to take time to inspect those moments of brokenness in private. It takes time to process these things. Inspire the people around you. If someone doesn’t like it, and is working to tear you down, they don’t have a share in your journey. It’s okay to express kind rebukes.

Inspiration to Share

How have you found Inspiration as you were inspecting a moment of brokenness? Did you find something in your journey that you could use to inspire someone close to you? Tell me about it in the comments below or write to me at [email protected].