Breaking Open: How Your Pain Becomes the Path to Living Again

In a broken world, Jesus offers us a way to walk through life without giving up or giving in: breaking open. Pastor Jacob Armstrong reveals seven dangerous ways we seek to avoid breakdown and shows us how to move from breaking to breaking open, leading to a life filled with hope and opportunity. We can learn to slow down, develop trust in who God says we are, love and live vulnerably, and find the courage to name the achy undercurrent in our soul and let Jesus heal us and make us whole.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 01 September 2022
Publisher: Thomas Nelson Publishers

In a world that often feels broken and fragmented, we yearn for a way to navigate life's challenges without succumbing to despair or giving in. Instead of succumbing to the weight of our struggles, Jesus offers us a transformative path: breaking open. This invitation beckons us to discover a new way of living, one that is filled with hope, power, and purpose.

The seven dangerous ways we commonly seek to avoid breakdown, as outlined in Pastor Jacob Armstrong's book "Breaking Open," are not just mere obstacles; they are thieves that rob us of life's fullness. These ways include striving for success at all costs, numbing our pain through addiction, isolating ourselves from others, seeking validation through external achievements, and striving for perfection. Each of these ways leads us away from the abundant life that God desires for us and instead leaves us feeling empty and unfulfilled.

However, "Breaking Open" presents a different way forward. It guides us through a progression of seven Jesus-ways that invite us to break open from the limitations and pain that hold us back. These Jesus-ways are not just about overcoming our challenges; they are about embracing the abundant life that Jesus came to offer. They include practices such as slowing down, finding rest, embracing vulnerability, and living with authenticity. By following these Jesus-ways, we can break free from the patterns that keep us from experiencing the fullness of life that God intends for us.

One of the key insights of "Breaking Open" is that our greatest heartaches can actually be the catalyst for our growth and healing. When we face the pain and brokenness in our lives, we have the opportunity to surrender to God's grace and allow him to heal us and make us whole. By embracing our vulnerability and allowing ourselves to be loved and accepted just as we are, we can break free from the shame and guilt that often hold us back.

Another powerful aspect of "Breaking Open" is its emphasis on living a spacious life. In our fast-paced and constantly connected world, we often feel overwhelmed and stressed. However, Pastor Armstrong encourages us to slow down, cultivate presence, and find joy in the simple things. By doing so, we can reconnect with ourselves and with others, and find a sense of peace and contentment that transcends the demands of our external world.

Furthermore, "Breaking Open" challenges us to develop trust in who God says we are. We are often plagued by self-doubt and insecurity, but Jesus came to set us free from these lies. By embracing our true identity and accepting the love and grace that God offers us, we can break free from the cycle of striving and comparing ourselves to others. We can find our purpose and meaning in the relationships we have with others and in the work we do, rather than seeking validation and fulfillment through external achievements.

In conclusion, "Breaking Open" is a powerful and transformative book that offers us a way to navigate life's challenges without giving up or giving in. By embracing the seven Jesus-ways outlined in this book, we can break open from the limitations and pain that hold us back and experience the fullness of life that God desires for us. Through practices such as slowing down, finding rest, embracing vulnerability, and living with authenticity, we can find hope, power, and purpose in the midst of our struggles. So let us embrace this invitation to break open and let Jesus heal us and make us whole.

Weight: 135g
Dimension: 139 x 213 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780785258322