The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit.

(Psalm 34:18, NKJV)

I have heard there is a monastery in Greece perched high on a cliff, several hundred feet above the ground. The only way to reach it is by being suspended in a basket, slowly pulled up by several monks who tug with all their strength. Naturally, the ride is terrifying. The cliff is steep, the drop is dizzying, and the basket sways with every pull of the rope.

One tourist, halfway up, noticed that the rope looked old and frayed. His heart raced, and he asked the monk riding with him, “How often do you change this rope?”

The monk calmly replied, “Whenever it breaks.”

We are shocked by that response. Surely the rope should be replaced long before that point. Yet as I thought about it, I realized that God sometimes works in a similar way in our lives. If we were to ask him when he plans to change or shape us, his answer might well be, “Whenever you break.”

True transformation begins with what Scripture calls a “broken spirit.” As long as we remain proud, stubborn, and determined to do things our way, God cannot fully work in us. Like a wild stallion, our strength and energy are largely wasted until we submit and allow him to guide us.

Psalm 34 says, “The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit.” (NKJV) Brokenness is not a weakness to be ashamed of — it is the entry point for God’s power to transform our hearts and lives.  Only when we recognize our limitations, admit our need for him, and surrender our will does his transforming work begin.

The challenge is that our pride often keeps us from that place. We try to pull ourselves up the cliff, confident in our own strength, ignoring the frayed rope beneath us.  But God calls us to trust him enough to allow the “breaking” process, knowing that it will lead to deeper intimacy with him.

Prayer: Father, I so often stubbornly try to do things my way. Teach me to embrace humility and recognize my need for you.  Help me cultivate a broken spirit — a heart willing to listen, submit, and be shaped by your hands.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

Alan Smith
Reprinted with permission from Alan Smith’s Thought For the Day