God uses most for His glory those people and things which arc most perfectly broken. The sacrifices He accepts are broken and contrite hearts. It was the breaking down of Jacob’s natural strength at Peniel that brought him to the place where God could clothe him with spiritual power. It was breaking the surface of the rock at Horeb by the stroke of Moses’ rod that let out the cool waters to the thirsty people.
It was only when the three hundred elect soldiers under Gideon broke their pitchers, letting the hidden lights shine through, that God wrought victory over their adversaries. It was not until the poor widow broke the seal of the little pot of oil, and poured it forth that God multiplied it to pay her debts and supply means of support.
It was when Esther risked her life and broke through the rigid etiquette of a heathen court that she obtained favor to rescue her people from death. It was when Jesus took the five loaves, and in the very act of breaking, they became sufficient to feed five thousand. It was when Mary broke her beautiful alabaster box, rendering it henceforth useless, that the pent-up perfume filled the house. It was when Jesus allowed His precious body to be broken to pieces by thorns, nails, and a spear that His inner life was poured out for thirsty sinners to drink and gain eternal life.
It is when a beautiful grain of corn dies that its inner heart sprouts forth and bears hundreds of other grains. All through the realms of history, human life, vegetation, and spiritual life, God seeks broken things to bless.
Those who are broken in wealth, broken in self-will, broken in their
ambitions, broken in their beautiful ideals, broken in worldly reputation, broken in their affections, broken ofttimes in health, and those who arc despised and seem utterly forlorn and helpless arc the ones the Holy Ghost uses for God’s glory. ‘Those are the ones who will find the inside secret of strength.
Strength is an inside secret. It comes from the Lord’s Spirit in the well of our inner being. Because His strength is limitless, our wells need never be empty. His strength is constantly surging up to give us exactly what we need in every moment. His strength gives us supernatural thinking power beyond our IQ, provides emotional strength when under pressure, engenders resoluteness in our wills, vision for our imaginations, and energizes our bodies with physical resiliency.
Zephaniah gives the secret of lasting strength. It is received in silent receptive communion with the Lord: “Be silent in die presence of die Lord God,” (Zep 1:7). What we discover in our silence becomes the source of our strength. The Lord rejoices over us, His children, with gladness. In spite of all our failures, He has chosen to be our God and to cherish us. Think about it: God, and all the company of Heaven is rejoicing over us! This gives us the confidence of silent strength. We belong to God— He has redeemed us in Christ and placed His Spirit in us. He will never give up on us as long as we don’t quit.
Alone with Him, God quiets us with His love. The unqualified, indefatigable love of our father gives us great confidence, security, and peace. There is no need to prove ourselves or blow our own horns. We can love with calm, winsome joy, and knowing drat the I .ord rejoices over us frees us to rejoice in Him. The Hebrew word for “rejoice” means “to spin around.” Our hearts pirouette with praise as we hear God’s song, more profound than audible sound:
“This is My beloved son, in whom I am pleased.” Have you realized the great strength you have in God?