Introduction

Good morning, beloved family in Christ. It is a joy to be standing here today, in the house of our Lord, ready to share His divine word with you. We are gathered here, not because we are perfect, but because we are imperfect, yet we are loved by a perfect God. We are here because we are broken, yet we are held by a God who is whole. And in our brokenness, we find the beautiful truth of God's power and grace.

Charles Spurgeon once said, "I have learned to kiss the wave that throws me against the Rock of Ages." This is a profound statement, echoing the reality of our lives as Christians. We are often thrown against the rock of ages, battered by the waves of life's tribulations, but in these moments, we learn to kiss the wave, to embrace our brokenness, and in doing so, we find ourselves closer to God.

Boasting in our Brokenness

In the passage we read, the Apostle Paul speaks of a thorn in his flesh. This thorn, whatever it may have been, was a source of great discomfort and pain for him. It was a constant reminder of his human frailty and weakness. Yet, instead of hiding this thorn, instead of pretending it didn't exist, Paul chose to boast about it. He chose to speak openly about his struggles, his weaknesses, his brokenness.

Why would he do that? Why would anyone choose to highlight their flaws and failures? Isn't it our natural instinct to hide our weaknesses, to put on a brave face, to pretend that everything is okay even when it's not? Yes, it is. But Paul understood something that we often forget. He understood that his brokenness, his weakness, was not something to be ashamed of. Instead, it was something to boast about.

Paul understood that his brokenness was not a sign of his failure, but a testament to God's power and grace. He understood that in his weakness, God's power was made perfect. This is a profound truth that we need to grasp. Our brokenness, our weaknesses, are not something to be hidden away. Instead, they are something to be embraced, to be boasted about.

But how do we do this? How do we boast in our brokenness? The first step is to acknowledge our brokenness. We need to stop pretending that we have it all together. We need to stop putting on a brave face and start being honest about our struggles. This is not easy. It requires humility and courage. But it is the first step towards boasting in our brokenness.

The second step is to understand that our brokenness is not a sign of our failure, but a testament to God's power and grace. This is a difficult truth to grasp. It goes against everything the world tells us. The world tells us that success is measured by our strengths, our achievements, our victories. But the Bible tells us that success is measured by our weaknesses, our failures, our brokenness.

The third step is to share our brokenness with others. This is perhaps the most difficult step. It requires vulnerability and trust. But it is also the most powerful step. When we share our brokenness with others, we give them permission to share their brokenness with us. We create a space where people can be honest about their struggles, where they can find support and encouragement.

The fourth step is to rejoice in our brokenness. This is the final step, the culmination of all the other steps. It is the point where we stop seeing our brokenness as a burden and start seeing it as a blessing. It is the point where we stop seeing our weakness as a weakness and start seeing it as a strength.

Bearing our Burdens

In the midst of our brokenness, we find ourselves carrying burdens ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO