BREAKING MOMENT

Peter told Jesus that even if all the other disciples run away from Him, he will not. On the day of reality, he denied Jesus three times. Who would have expected such a disciple to be broken? It happened because he had reached a breaking point, but he could not overcome it.

Samson also reached that point. He woke up from sleep after been shaved thinking he could fight his enemies as before. He did not know that the Holy Spirit had left him. Elijah could not stand up against the pressure from Jezebel. He wished he had died. Jonah also had his experience. Even Jesus at the garden of Gethsemane had experienced the moment, but He was quick to overcome it. Judas Iscariot could not handle his breaking moments before and after betraying Jesus.

I sometimes have mine. I have written and spoken on various topics that encouraged many people by the grace of God. To some, I am a teacher and mentor. Often, they feel my area of strength, but there are times I also experienced breaking moments of doubts and frustration about the journey of life. Moments of unmotivated prayers and studying the Word of God. Times of questioning why God had allowed certain things to happen to me.

You may even feel a loss of interest in living meaningfully. Your joy may turn to bitterness. Endurance may turn to giving up. The people who used to support and encourage you may turn against you. You turn to God as your only Helper to act, but He may not intervene when you want Him to, but only in His time. All these are elements for testing your faith. Maybe the devil has received permission, just like in the case of Job and Peter to test you.
How do you handle breaking moments? Do you allow them to break you or use them for growth? Don’t let them break you in spite of the fact that they are difficult moments. You can overcome by the grace of God.

If you ask some people caught in sin, why they did it, they may either blame the devil or confess as not knowing how they found themselves in the situation. The devil will tempt you more when you are desperate. It is during these breaking moments that he often visits with his alternatives. He gives you bad options of getting money when you desperately need money.
The devil is looking for someone to devour. He searches for your weak points to strike. He knows when you are strong and weak. You need to be careful and wise.

Peter was warming himself around the fire started by some people after the arrest of Jesus when a servant girl confronted him that led to a denial of Jesus. David saw Bathsheba bathing from a roof top and could not resist the temptation of sleeping with her.

You should share your breaking moments with someone that can understand and support you well. There are some people who God has called to help you in this journey. Don’t think you can make it alone.
Facing breaking moments is one thing, becoming a victim is another. You don’t have to become a victim. When Joseph, in a foreign land, faced his own with Potiphar’s wife, he became a victor. Even the challenge of reconciling with his brothers was tough, but he achieved it, by God’s grace.

If you fall, recovery may not be easy. However, if you have already become a victim and wondering what to do to be back on track, there is hope for you. If you confess your sins, God is faithful to forgive and purify you from all unrighteousness (1 John 1: 9).

Don’t depend on what you think you know. Always rely on God to help you out of your moments of confusion, prayerlessness, frustration, doubts and fear. He is with you even when you think He is not there. He won’t let you down. He can turn your breaking moments to victory.

(Excerpts from the book, THE MEANINGFUL LIFE, by Pusonnam Yiri).