The difference between restoration and ruin depends on how long you allow brokenness to remain after great loss. Brokenness can easily become a new identity.
Ignored, it’ll deceive and lead us to believe we are in control, then overcome us at the slightest indication of weakness.
Acknowledged, it brings to focus our God who is in control and opens the door to fully trusting that He will see you through. Acknowledged, it opens your heart to seek Him.
Jeremiah 29:13 says, “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” (KJV)
I remember the exact moment someone asked me how long I would wait before dating again after my young husband’s passing. It was a moment of decision. The fork in the road. My heart hardened at the insensitive question. I thought: if I could control anything, I could control heartbreak coming in and out of my life. In fact, I was convinced I would decide when love could knock on my door again.
This was not the case.
I was hiding in a broken state. Unwilling to move beyond what I could see at the fear of having my heart shattered again.
Many times, when we feel pain, it is easy to embrace it past its expiration date. We drown in self-pity and turn away the healing hand of God. We do not see how that just by being a little bit vulnerable, God’s grace thrives.
He doesn’t want to hear you’re “fine”.
He wants to hear, “I’m weary, and I need you.”
Pride can fuel the flame of suffering and isolate us away from the hope that can be found in Him. It can disguise itself as “humility” too. Funny, how pride can sound humble. “No really, I’m fine! Everything’s fine.” But on the inside, we are spiraling.
Somewhere between a prayer meeting and counseling, hope was revealed to me.
And what I saw was this:
While I know there will always be brokenness in this world, there is a God who heals. He heals in ways we cannot understand and on very specific, purpose-driven timelines. He can restore every piece that is broken and make you whole again.
“Thou, which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, And shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth. Thou shalt increase my greatness, And comfort me on every side.” (Psalm 71:20-21, KJV)
