Only an all-wise God uses brokenness for purposes far beyond our most creative imaginations!

If every pastor was totally open about his deepest struggle, I wouldn't be surprised if in most cases it was this: finding identity through his role as a pastor instead of Jesus Christ his Savior.

I preached this message for seminary students at Grace Theological Seminary. It's the fruit of God's longsuffering work in my life, revealing my ever-so-frequent idolizing of ministry and finding my identity through ministry objectives and victories instead of Jesus Christ Who alone is all my righteousness, all my joy, and alone can fulfill all my desires and needs.

Paul struggled with the same thing and the result is 2 Corinthians 12. God gave him—literally—a stake thrust into his side to keep him from exalting himself, the default mode of the human heart.