Day 27: Survey. Others Define Brokenness

Awhile back, I sent several of my friends a survey to fill out on brokenness. I wanted to share some of the results that I got from that with you! :) I'm learning that "brokenness" is a very broad term with different nuances, something that comes up in the way people answered my questions. Here's the first one for now:

How would you define brokenness?

Something that is not whole and that needs to be put together that is stopping the said thing from being what/who they are created to be.

comfort or security being split apart, taken away, disintegrated

reaching the end of yourself

Brokenness lacks one-ness--it is disjoined. Brokenness inherently begs and calls for restoration.

being at the point of being unable to make sense of the mess of your life on your own

Brokenness is wounds of the soul--the pain, suffering and discouragement that come from living in a fallen and sinful world.

"""He must increase, but I must decrease."" John 3:30
""We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.""2 Corinthians 4:8-11

Brokenness/suffering is a catalyst that allows for manifestation of Christ in our daily lives.  He must increase, and we decrease in order that he may be fully known not only to us, but to those around us.

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