Hope for the Broken Pieces
What comes to mind when you hear the word brokenness? Does it trigger a memory or describe an area of your life? Do you think it describes your life?? All of us have experienced brokenness at some point in our lives. Broken relationships, broken bodies, broken minds, broken dreams, etc. Sometimes the brokenness we experience feels too big to ever be repaired. But there is HOPE.
Take a moment and visualize a beautiful clear vase. Maybe you have one sitting close by you can look at. Visualize this as a representation of your life before the brokenness. It’s nice and smooth with no flaws. The bible says in Psalm 139:13-14 that God created our inmost being and knit us together in our mother’s womb. We are fearfully and wonderfully made. Despite how you were conceived God created you beautifully and has a beautiful plan for your life.
Unfortunately, because we live in a sin cursed world we experience things that cause brokenness in our lives. Now envision that same vase I just spoke about. Think about what it would look like if someone took a hammer to it or dropped it on a tile floor. That beautiful unflawed vase would shatter into a million pieces. If this happened at your house, think about what you would do. You would grab the broom, sweep up the broken pieces and throw them away.
This is what we experience at times in our lives. For some of you the brokenness may have happened very early like at birth or as a child. For others it may have come at a later age from some unfortunate event. Sometimes we are broken because of others and sometimes we make choices that cause the brokenness in our lives. No matter how it happens it is still painful and can leave us feeling hopeless. We too can feel useless and may have been treated like a throw away. In my own life I have experienced abuse and made decisions that left me shattered and broken. I too at times felt like a throw away so I can understand that pain.
But I’m thankful you are reading this blog because I want to share with you the Hope that I have found and is also available for you. One of my favorite verses is Psalm 147:3 where we see God’s promise to heal the brokenhearted and bind up their wounds. One thing I have found personally is that only God can truly heal the broken pieces in his own unique way. There is HOPE for the brokenness. God did not make a mistake when he created you and he specializes in repairing broken things.
God gave me a vision a few years back that has changed my life and brought clarity to my broken pieces. He showed me a stained glass window and how it is beautifully created from broken glass. I researched the process of creating a stained glass window and what I found gave me great revelation into God’s divine healing process for all of us..
You see, the artist of a stained glass window will take broken pieces of glass, grind down the rough/sharp edges to make them smooth and get them into the perfect shape for his masterpiece. The healing of our broken pieces can be uncomfortable at times as God is smoothing out the sharp edges. This part of the process is so necessary because as long as we are walking around with the sharp edges exposed we will cut and hurt those around us even when we don’t intend to. It is God’s plan to create something beautiful from the broken pieces but first we have to give them to him so he can get them into the perfect shape to fit into his perfect plan (masterpiece). It is important to note that he never intends to hurt us while grinding off the rough edges although it may be uncomfortable at times. I love the reminder in Jeremiah 29:11 that he desires to prosper us and not to harm us. He desires to give us hope and a future. You can trust the process. Psalm 18:30 tells us “As for God, his way is perfect; The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.”
Once the artist has the pieces in the exact shape he needs and all the edges are smooth he begins to put them together using a special metal and just the right amount of heat. This part represents the Holy Spirit. It is He who gently fits our broken pieces together into a beautiful masterpiece.
It is never too late and there is nothing too hard for God. He desires so much to take our broken pieces but we have to be willing to surrender them to him. He is a gentleman and will not snatch them from us. Instead he is waiting for us to open our hands and give the broken pieces to him. You do not have to have all the answers. You do not have to figure it all out, you just have to surrender. He will do the rest and provide everything that we need in the process. In Psalm 34:18 it tells us that he is close to the brokenhearted. So right where you are if you are broken, God is there and desires to have your broken pieces.
The process of restoration in our lives is not usually what we would choose but we can trust him with the end result. Ecclesiates 3:11 promises that “God makes everything beautiful in time.”
I’m living proof that God can turn the broken pieces into a masterpiece and then shine his light so brightly that others can enjoy the beauty of His creation. He desires to do that for you as well. As I end this blog today I encourage you to share what you have read with someone you trust and choose to surrender your pieces to God. You do not have to walk this journey alone. Find someone you can trust or seek out a Godly counselor that can walk with you through the process.
I would love to hear from you and how you are surrendering to him today. If you do not know this Jesus that I have referenced in this blog then send me a message at unlockingourhope@gmail.com. I’d love to share some resources with you on how you can receive his love and begin your journey to Hope and freedom.
I want to leave your with a couple of songs that I know will bless you today:
Gracefully Broken by Tasha Cobb
Defender (Live) by UpperRoom