Even when we are pressed on every side, perplexed, persecuted, or struck down, we are not destroyed because God’s power is made perfect in our weakness. Our brokenness is not a sign of defeat but a testimony to the treasure God has placed within us—His presence, His strength, and His purpose. The crushing and breaking we experience are not the end, but the means by which the life of Jesus is revealed in us. When we feel like giving up, we can remember that God is using our struggles to manifest His glory and to encourage us to run on just a little bit longer. [06:05]
2 Corinthians 4:7-12 (NKJV)
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So then death is working in us, but life in you.
Reflection: When you feel pressed or overwhelmed today, how can you invite God to reveal His strength through your weakness instead of hiding your struggles behind a mask?
God hand-picks and breaks us, not to harm us, but to purify us—removing pride, jealousy, and anything that does not look like Him. Just as olives must be crushed to produce oil and silver must be refined by fire, we too must go through seasons of breaking and purging so that God can see His reflection in us. This process is not comfortable, but it is necessary for transformation, humility, and holiness. In the fire, God is undoing our hidden motives and emptying us of ourselves so He can fill us with His Spirit and use us for His glory. [18:03]
Malachi 3:2-3 (ESV)
But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord.
Reflection: What is one area in your life where you sense God is refining you right now, and how can you surrender to His purifying work instead of resisting it?
Surrender is not easy, especially when we are used to doing things on our own, but God calls us to let go and trust Him completely. He wants us to take our hands off the situation and allow Him to open doors, pull out chairs, and lead us as His beloved children. True surrender means allowing God to purge us, push us, and take things out of us until what He sees looks like Himself. Only when we are surrendered and emptied of our own agendas can God pour in His oil and use us for His purpose. [22:10]
Romans 12:1 (ESV)
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
Reflection: What is one specific thing you are holding onto that God is asking you to surrender today, and what would it look like to truly let go?
Sometimes God’s breaking feels like rejection or isolation, but it is actually His protection and preparation. He removes relationships, closes doors, and shields us from unseen dangers because He hears conversations and sees plans we do not. What feels like loneliness or loss is often God’s way of consecrating us, drawing us closer to Himself, and keeping us from harm. Even when we do not understand, we can trust that God is working behind the scenes to protect us and position us for what He has prepared. [25:47]
Psalm 91:9-12 (ESV)
Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place—the Most High, who is my refuge—no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.
Reflection: Can you recall a time when a closed door or lost relationship later proved to be God’s protection? How might you thank Him for His unseen care today?
The pain and breaking we endure are not wasted; they are the birth canal of our destiny and the means by which God positions and multiplies us for His glory. Just as Jesus took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to the people, God takes us, blesses us, breaks us, and gives us to the world. Our brokenness is not just for us—it is so we can be used to uplift and build the kingdom. The more we are broken in the Master’s hand, the more we are multiplied and made fit for His purpose. [37:26]
Luke 22:19 (ESV)
And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
Reflection: In what way might God be calling you to allow your story of brokenness to be a blessing to others this week?
Life often brings seasons of brokenness—times when we feel pressed, crushed, or even undone by circumstances beyond our control. Yet, before any of us were formed, God knew us and ordained every moment, including our moments of pain and struggle. In these times, it’s tempting to hide behind masks, giving polished answers and presenting a facade of strength, but God sees beyond the surface. He knows the real us, the one behind the mask, and He loves us deeply in our brokenness.
Brokenness is not a sign of failure or abandonment; rather, it is a process God uses to purify, protect, and position us for greater purpose. Just as olives must be crushed to release oil and grapes must be pressed to become wine, we too are handpicked and refined through pressure. God’s breaking is intentional—He purges us of pride, jealousy, and hidden motives, transforming us into vessels that reflect His image. The refining fire is uncomfortable, but it is necessary for our development and for the anointing He desires to pour out through us.
Surrender is at the heart of this process. We often try to control our lives, forgetting that God is the one who opens doors, protects us from unseen dangers, and orchestrates our steps. Sometimes, what feels like rejection or isolation is actually God’s protection and consecration, setting us apart so we can hear His voice more clearly. He removes relationships and opportunities that would harm us, even when we don’t understand why.
Pain is not wasted in God’s hands. It is the birth canal of destiny, the means by which He positions us for promotion and multiplies our impact. The breaking is not for our destruction but for our construction—building us into the masterpiece He sees, even when we cannot. Like the bread in Jesus’ hands, we are taken, blessed, broken, and then given to the world for God’s glory. The oil produced in our crushing is precious and will not be wasted. In every season of brokenness, God is faithful, and He will restore.
2 Corinthians 4:7-12 (ESV) — But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 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. So death is at work in us, but life in you.
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