noun (plural): broken or irregular parts of something; fragments
“God made my life complete when I placed all the pieces before him.”
Psalm 18:20
“Careful… don’t break it!” How many times have you heard that in your life?
Of course you didn’t want to break Grandma’s Christmas platter or the preschool handprint made of clay. You didn’t try to break the jar of salsa all over the floor…
Broken stuff is upsetting. And messy.
And it can hurt so much. Especially when the breaking happens inside. When it’s a heart that is in pieces. But just because something is in pieces doesn’t mean it’s ruined. I like to think there is a lot of hope for broken things.
When 8-year-old Ty broke both bones in his right forearm, our basketball-loving, baseball-playing kid was devastated. But as soon as those fractured bones were in a cast up to his shoulder, healing began to take place. New bone cells grew, new connections were formed. A few weeks later, when 12-year-old Andy’s wrist got slammed into the boards during a hockey game, he joined his brother in this process of breaking and healing and new growth. We had a double dose of it that winter.
Within months, though, arms had healed and casts came off. Growth and time had sealed together the broken pieces in new and healthy ways. Instead of just getting back to normal, their bones had actually become stronger than they were before.
Not only can broken things become stronger, they can become more beautiful. In Japan, mending broken pottery is an inspiring art form called kintsugi: “golden joinery.” 15 Instead of throwing away the broken pieces of a vase or teacup, artists carefully seal them back together using a special lacquer sprinkled with expensive gold. The restored piece with its unique golden design is regarded as even more pleasing, more valuable than it was before. A treasure.
That’s what Jesus wants to do with us. He wants to scoop up our broken pieces and put them back together in stronger and more beautiful ways. No matter how many cracks we have, Jesus can take our rough places, our sharp edges, our painful parts and create an amazing work of art. Unique. Valuable. Even better than before.
Invite Him In
Jesus knows what broken feels like. That’s what happened to him on the cross. His body, broken for you. His precious blood, shed for you. He became broken so you don’t have to stay that way. Go ahead and give him all your pieces. Just place them in his nail-scarred hands and let him begin the new growth, the healing, the delicate bonding and painting. He will make you into a beautiful treasure, stronger than ever before.
Prayer
Dear Jesus, you understand that the broken pieces of my heart hurt sometimes. Please help me give them to you, trusting you to heal and strengthen me. Thank you that you are so faithful to restore me when I am falling apart.
