Scripture reading: Hebrews 12:5–13

Breaking the Will without
Crushing the Spirit

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and
contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. (Psalm 51:17)

I know almost nothing about breaking a horse, but I’ve watched enough cowboy movies to have a rough understanding of what is involved. The process is typically long and rather violent. Though there is something
beautiful about an unbroken stallion running wild over the prairie, such an animal is simply of no usefulness until he is “broken.” The word choice is powerful. The great challenge for the cowboy is this: how to break the horse’s will without crushing his spirit.

One of the best pictures of entire sanctification I have ever read comes from a little book entitled Embracing Brokenness by Alan E. Nelson. The author likens the inner self (the soul) to an untamed stallion. Jesus comes to conquer the will. Until the “breaking” occurs, the soul remains wild and useless to the Master’s service. Nelson describes what this process of breaking is like:

I have noticed three parallels between breaking a horse and taming the soul. The first is that the world has little use for a wild, unbroken soul. An unbroken soul is primarily a consumer. It occupies space and carries on many of the functions of a broken soul; but it performs little good . . .

The second observation is that the breaking process ultimately strengthens the bond between the cowboy (owner, rider, caretaker) and the horse. Prior to being broken, all that exists is admiration from a distance, and the basic maintenance of life (feeding, watering). Once brokenness occurs, there is bonding and affection . . .

Third, one would think that the breaking process would sap the spirit, drive and energy of the horse. It does not. The horse is just as strong after breaking as before, but his abilities multiply many times over and his energy is no longer wild, but directed. The process of embracing brokenness is not a matter of becoming passive, unmotivated or lackluster. Rather, it is a catalyzing process that ultimately helps the soul reach its potential.

I used to believe that after a person prayed the sinner’s prayer and became a Christian, all that was needed was to grow in grace. Read your Bible, go to church, pray daily, join a small group, get involved in ministry, and you’ll automatically grow to be a mature saint of God. Right? It seldom works this way. The truth is, most of us are born into God’s family with our wills still unbroken. Whether the unsurrendered self manifests itself aggressively like a bucking bronco or passively like a stubborn mule, until the Master breaks us and conquers our will we are useless in his service. Conquering the will is what sanctification is all about.

Perhaps Jesus is inviting you to meet him in the Holy Spirit corral where he wants to teach you who is master and who isn’t. The breaking process is not pleasant but there is no other way to live a life that matters. Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you.  Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord. (Psalm 32:9–10)

Subdue self-will in a child and thus work
together with God to save his or her soul.
—Susannah Wesley (one of her
guidelines for raising children)

point to ponder • Until your will is broken you are like a wild stallion.

prayer focus • For someone whose will has never been broken.