Broken is the best place to be.

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what it means to have strength through this life. Strength is necessary because life is hard. And I don’t really mean physical strength. I mean strength that comes from within. Grit, determination and perseverance.

The honest question we all have to ask ourselves though is this: How far will our own strength take us?

We recently had our chapel service for our 2026 graduating class. The guest speaker preached from 1 Corinthians 10 about overcoming temptation. He highlighted vs. 13:

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

This passage reminds us that everyone struggles with temptation. Even Jesus was tempted when He was here. Temptation is inevitable because our world is broken. The issue isn’t being tempted though; it’s what you do with the temptation.

One of the main take-aways from the chapel message was that our own self-determination and strength will not hold up in the midst of temptation. We cannot overcome temptation just by buckling down and trying harder. It won’t be enough. This same truth applies to other areas of life as well.

Whether you are a Christian or not, it’s important to note that our own strength and ability can only take us so far, and it also leads us to a state of pride. Many people think that this is the solution to the problems they face. Pride, ego and self-strength is the answer to our challenges. When we hit that peak state of pride though, we begin to bring down others and even ourselves. We become the person we never wanted to become.

So, if our own strength isn’t going to do it, what will?

*One word: BROKENNESS

When something is broken, what needs to happen? It needs to be fixed, but it won’t fix itself; it needs someone else to put the pieces back together.

What might sound like weakness to us, is exactly what God is looking for. He meets us in our state of brokenness and does what only He can do. Strength in the Christian life, looks like weakness. When we embrace our weakness, we experience the power of God in and through us. Paul speaks about this in 2 Corinthians 12:9–

Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 

Broken is the best place to be! Those of us that know Christ, have the greatest power living in us. When we are at the end of ourselves, the Holy Spirit will sustain us, carry us, and empower us.

So, whether it’s overcoming temptation, making it through a hard day, having that conversation with someone that you don’t want to, grieving the loss of an opportunity or loved one, trusting God with the unknown, or anything else – broken is the best place to be.

His strength meets is enough! Lord, help us to be broken so we can experience you.

Grace & Peace