“The Blessing in the Breaking: When God Uses Broken Things”

Luke 24:30–31 KJV 1900

30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.

Isaiah 48:10 KJV 1900

10 Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.

Introduction:

There is a lie that many in the Church have bought into—that every trial, every hardship, every breaking is the work of the devil. But the Word of God tells us something different. There are times when God Himself authors the breaking to bring us to a greater glory.

Yes, Satan tempts. Yes, the flesh fails. Yes, the world resists. But there are moments—holy moments—when God ordains the breaking to refine, to purify, and to prepare His vessels for supernatural usefulness.

“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” — Psalm 51:17

Brokenness is not rejection—it is preparation. It is not the end—it is the threshold to destiny.

I. GOD BROKE ABRAHAM BEFORE HE BLESSED HIM

Before Abraham could become the father of many nations, he had to leave everything behind.

Genesis 12:1 – “Get thee out of thy country… unto a land that I will shew thee.”

He was broken from his past, detached from familiarity, and separated for glory.

But the ultimate breaking came in Genesis 22, when God told him to offer Isaac. That wasn’t the devil—that was God testing Abraham’s faith and obedience.

Genesis 22:1 – “God did tempt Abraham…”

And it was after the knife was raised, after the breaking was complete, that the promise was sealed:

Genesis 22:17 – “That in blessing I will bless thee…”

II. GOD BROKE JACOB BEFORE HE BLESSED ISRAEL

Jacob was a deceiver. But God saw a prince locked in a pretender.

So God met him one night alone at Peniel.

Genesis 32:24-28 – “And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him…”

God didn’t just wrestle him—He wounded him. He touched the hollow of his thigh. Jacob walked with a limp from that day on. That limp was his crown.

And only after he was broken, God said:

“Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel…”

– Genesis 32:28

Brokenness brought identity. Brokenness brought blessing.

III. GOD BROKE JOSEPH TO PREPARE A PRESERVER

Joseph had dreams, but his journey to fulfillment led through betrayal, slavery, false accusation, and prison.

Psalm 105:17-19

“He sent a man before them, even Joseph… Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron: Until the time that his word came: the word of the Lord tried him.”

That was no accident. God allowed Joseph to be broken, so that when the palace came, he wouldn’t walk in pride but in purpose.

Joseph wasn’t just promoted—he was prepared.

IV. GOD BROKE MOSES TO MAKE HIM A DELIVERER

Moses had passion, but he lacked preparation. He killed an Egyptian in his own strength.

So God sent him to the backside of the desert for 40 years.

Exodus 3:1 – “Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro…”

The man who once lived in Pharaoh’s palace became a shepherd in the wilderness. The mighty became meek. And only then did God appear in the burning bush and send him to deliver Israel.

Your wilderness is not a waste—it’s your anointing chamber.

V. GOD BROKE HANNAH BEFORE HE GAVE HER SAMUEL

Hannah was barren. Mocked. Grieved. Misunderstood.

1 Samuel 1:10 – “And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore.”

That breaking drove her to the altar. And out of her sorrow, she made a vow—and gave God what He was waiting for all along: a surrendered womb.

Samuel wasn’t just her blessing—he was God’s prophetic answer to a nation in spiritual decline.

Out of the womb of brokenness came revival.

VI. GOD BROKE JOB TO REVEAL HIS GLORY

Job was upright, but God had greater glory in store.

Job 1:8 – “Hast thou considered my servant Job?”

It wasn’t the devil’s idea—it was God who pointed Job out.

Through loss, boils, and betrayal, Job learned to see God, not just know about Him.

Job 42:5 (KJV) – “I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.”

And what came next?

Job 42:10 (KJV) – “The Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.”

VII. GOD BROKE PETER TO BUILD HIS BOLDNESS

Peter was loud, impulsive, and confident in himself.

But after denying Christ three times, he wept bitterly (Luke 22:62). That breaking stripped him of arrogance.

Luke 22:31-32 – “Satan hath desired to have you… but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not…”

And on the day of Pentecost, it wasn’t the old Peter who stood up—it was the broken, humbled, Spirit-filled Peter who preached and 3,000 were saved.

VIII. GOD BROKE MARY TO BIRTH THE SAVIOR

Mary was young, unknown, and misunderstood. She carried a scandal, but also carried the promise.

Luke 2:35 – “Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also…”

Her breaking was personal, emotional, and prophetic. Yet from her womb came the Messiah.

Brokenness is the birthplace of the miraculous.

IX. JESUS ENDURED BROKENNESS TO BRING SALVATION

The Son of God, spotless and pure, was wounded, bruised, crushed.

Isaiah 53:5 – “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities…”

He broke the bread and said:

Luke 22:19 – “This is my body, which is broken for you…”

And out of that breaking came salvation, redemption, and eternal life.

There is no resurrection without the cross. No crown without crushing.

Absolutely, Pastor Robert. Let’s add one final, deeply reflective and practical point to the sermon, focusing on the question:

X. WHAT DOES BROKENNESS LOOK LIKE, AND HOW DO WE NAVIGATE IT SPIRITUALLY?

Brokenness isn’t just about outward hardship. It’s an inward yielding. It’s when our will, pride, self-dependence, and fleshly strength are shattered under the weight of God’s hand—not to harm, but to transform.

A. What Does Brokenness Look Like?

A Heart That’s Humbled and Teachable

“Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.” — Psalm 119:67 (KJV)

A broken heart says, “Lord, teach me. Change me. Lead me.”

2. A Spirit of Contrition and Surrender

“To this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.” — Isaiah 66:2 (KJV)

Brokenness doesn’t argue with God—it bows before Him.

3. Tears That Water the Altar of Prayer

True brokenness drives you to your knees—not just for help, but for His will.

4. Letting Go of Control

Brokenness looks like laying Isaac on the altar—even if it means walking up the mountain without answers.

B. How Do We Navigate Brokenness Spiritually and Biblically?

Acknowledge God’s Sovereignty in the Trial

“Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?” — Job 2:10 (KJV)

God is still in control. Even when it hurts, He’s refining you.

2. Submit to the Process, Don’t Short-Circuit It

“Let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” — James 1:4 (KJV)

Stay on the potter’s wheel. The pressure is shaping you.

3. Remain in the Word of God

“This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.” — Psalm 119:50 (KJV)

Don’t let emotions define your brokenness—let the Word guide you through it.

4. Stay in Fellowship with the Body

Elijah withdrew into isolation during his breaking, but God called him back.

“What doest thou here, Elijah?” — 1 Kings 19:9 (KJV)

Isolation breeds deception. You need the Church to surround you, pray with you, and speak life into your weariness.

5. Wait for the Oil

After the olive is crushed, the oil flows. After the seed dies, the harvest comes.

“They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.” — Psalm 126:5 (KJV)

Glory is on the other side. Don’t quit in the press.

Closing Charge to the Church:

Let us be a people not afraid of brokenness, but yielded in it. Let us not resist the refining fire, but embrace it as the place where our flesh dies and His glory lives.

Romans 8:18 (KJV) – “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”

Let God break you, so He can bless through you.

Let me know if you’d like this sermon with all ten points formatted for Proclaim or Logos. I can also generate a shareable image or short post for this final charge if you’d like.

Conclusion:

Church, stop cursing your breaking. Stop blaming every hardship on the devil. Sometimes, it’s God doing the breaking—because He sees something greater in you.

You are still in the Potter’s hand.

Altar Call:

Come to the altar today not asking for relief—but asking for revelation. Let the breaking produce surrender. Let the crushing produce oil. Let the pain produce purpose.

2 Corinthians 4:7 (KJV) – “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels…”

Final Quote:

“The greatest blessing often comes not in spite of the breaking, but because of it. If you’re broken today, you’re closer to glory than you realize.” — Leonard Ravenhill