Finding Hope in Brokenness

We might even feel tossed aside, forgotten, or rejected. Yet God breaks through all that mess. We’re never beyond healing.

It crashed to the floor, breaking into an explosion of pieces. Beyond repair. My favorite mug, now being swept into the trash. “Should have been more careful,” I mumbled to myself.  For in the midst of a hurried cleaning frenzy, I’d lost my grip. So very telling of real life sometimes when it’s hard to hold on or keep it all together. And everything comes crashing down around you.

Broken days. Broken dreams. Broken lives…

Like me, maybe you’ve found yourself there before, or even now are facing a difficult season of brokenness. God whispers to our hearts, right through the pain: there is HOPE. And He promises never to waste the suffering we experience in this life. He’s the only One able to turn it around for greater purpose and beauty.

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3

In Japan, they’ve made an art out of restoring broken things. An ancient practice called Kintsugi, meaning “golden joinery” or “to patch with gold,” is an age-old custom of repairing cracked pottery with real gold, not only fixing the break but greatly increasing the value of the piece. 

The heart of it all is simply this – turning what is broken into beautiful, cherished pieces, by sealing the cracks and crevices with lines of fine gold. Instead of hiding the flaws, Kintsugi artists highlight them, creating a whole new design and bringing unique beauty to the original piece. 

The pottery actually becomes more beautiful and valuable in the restoration process because, though it was once broken, it not only has history, but a new story. The powerful art of Kintsugi reinforces a profound belief that the repair can make things not only as good as they were before but “better than new.”

Better than new. Soak that in for a moment.

“Behold, I am making all things new.” Revelation 21:5

There are lies out there that swirl around and whisper to our deepest soul in weak moments, when we’ve lost our grip, and things come crashing down. We may feel the need to hide the scars. Or battle the lies that brokenness has rendered us useless in life. 

We might even feel tossed aside, forgotten, or rejected. Yet God breaks through all that mess. We’re never beyond healing. 

Our loving Healer reminds us, there’s no need to be ashamed of the scars, the deep crevices that line our hearts and the broken places of our lives. For they have an amazing story to tell.

Brokenness has the power, unlike anything else, to bring new beauty, strength, and inspiration to others. Because it’s often in those moments when we’ve tasted deep suffering, that we noticed, we were made for more. And there’s a greater purpose in it all.

Jesus is the only One who can fit the broken pieces into a perfect design. He works, often behind the scenes, mending and creating a better work of art, more than we ever dreamed possible. He makes all things beautiful. Especially in the broken. All from His grace. Our healing is never intended to be invisible but beautifully lined with shining grace through every scar and broken space. Gold-filled crevices of our hearts are now stronger, better, and more beautiful than before.

“Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:19

Dear God,

Thank You for Your power to take this difficult season of life and bring great beauty and purpose through it. We ask for Your healing in our hearts and for the faith to believe that nothing is impossible with You. We know that You have good still in store and Your light shines brightly through our broken places. Thank You for Your grace, Your love, and Your protection over us. We trust You Lord as never before.

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen.