The End of Me: Where Real Life in the Upside-Down Ways of Jesus Begins

by Kyle Idleman

Jesus became real when … I came to the end of me.

Real life is found at the end of me.

Jesus says the kingdom begins with taking inventory and coming up with zero. We have nothing to offer, and that means we’re making progress. That’s real revolutionary talk.

Here’s one to think about: the less you see your own brokenness, the more broken you are.

the people of our times have become masters of illusion, experts at covering pain, abusers of medication, slaves of financial debt, followers of fads, and partakers of loneliness. Because we won’t realize that the only solution for being broken is … brokenness. By brokenness, I mean the acknowledgment of it, the full and unflinching acceptance that we are bankrupt, poor in spirit, and have nothing to offer.

Embrace the paradox: brokenness is the way to wholeness.

God loves to make the broken beautiful.

Broken people reveal the beauty and power of God. Flaws are openings.

My prayer is, God, take my broken pieces and remold them into what seems best to you. The question is whether or not we are willing to let the cracks show.

That’s the inside-out way of Jesus—in you, then through you.

Without suffering, we simply can’t know his comfort. In mourning, we experience the blessing of God’s presence.

When disaster comes, we can’t see anything bigger than what we’ve lost.

Everyone experiences loss. Everyone mourns. But those who follow Jesus find that their pain is not wasted.

Pride keeps us from realizing how desperately we need God.

The Bible points out that pride is blinding. You can’t see the pride in your life because of … well, because of the pride in your life.