“We need to run with courage. Something God is teaching me is to bring my brokenness right away to His throne.”

There are many things that break in this world—cars, phones, street signs, lights, fingernails (the worst), bones (maybe worse than a broken nail) and jewelry. I am sure we find broken things every day in our house. There are many broken things in our lives, for example, friendships, families, dreams and hearts.

Some of those broken things like a car or a streetlight can lead to destruction. I have passed some car crashes due to power outages. Often broken things lead to destruction. Because of this, we tend to associate the word broken in a negative way.

You want to know what the cool thing is, though? God doesn’t see our brokenness that way. To God, nothing is wasted, and nothing leads to destruction with God.  If we are in Christ, and Christ in us, it is time we start claiming our brokenness for beauty, because in Christ our brokenness is beautiful. Let’s be real. We all have brokenness in our lives. If not right now, we have in the past, or we will in the future.

Currently, I am looking out at the ocean while gathering my thoughts for this blog. Let me tell ‘ya, the sight is beautiful. The beach is not always this beautiful. There are times when this water has trash floating in it and it’s dark and cold. Right now as I am looking at it, there is light shining on it, kids swimming in it, and fish living in it. This is what it was created for and that makes it beautiful. Sound familiar? That’s kind of like us. Like the ocean, we can be living for our created purpose and still have brokenness. Do not let this brokenness scare you. There is a purpose for the pain. Embrace the hurt, the pain, the fear. We need to ask God to come and use that time in our lives to shape us, grow us and increase our faith. When we continue to be used for our purpose in the midst our brokenness we can still find beauty, just like the ocean.  “And provide for those who grieve in Zion, to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called mighty oaks, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor” (Isa. 61:3).

I encourage you all to read the whole chapter of Isaiah 61. Isaiah talks about how He was sent to bind up the broken hearted, and those broken people were used for so many great things. God is doing the same thing today! Except instead of Isaiah, it’s you and me.

“We live in a world filled with beauty and wonder, adventure and laughter,” says Stasi Eldredge. “But also too often it is filled with difficulty, fear, danger and pain. Courage is the quality of spirit that enables one to face danger, pain, difficulty, or fear with confidence. We have confidence. Not based on our own ability to manage life but based on the faithfulness of God.”

We need to run with courage. Something God is teaching me is to bring my brokenness right away to His throne. I get caught up in thinking, “Oh, once I get through these things I will see what God was doing and then I’ll be fine.” Which yes, is true because God is faithful. But, my friends, why not claim the brokenness right now and see the good now? There is beauty in everything when we shed God’s light on it. Just like a little light will bring forth the gorgeous ocean view, God’s light will always bring forth beauty in our lives.

Amid the brokenness we can still serve, love, build relationships, witness, and be a light in this world. If were being honest.

I often think I was too scared to shed light on my brokenness because I was too comfortable in it. Sometimes when we have brokenness, it means there is sin in our lives. So, if that’s the case, what does that mean for us? It means repentance. When I say the phrase “Claiming brokenness for beauty,” claim means confess, own it. It will be so scary. It will be so hard to bring our brokenness and sin into the light. Own your brokenness. Why? Because God restores and heals. Before I realized this for myself, I let my brokenness control my life. It also caused so much pain for others around me. Some of you may relate to this.

Recently in my life I had a breakthrough. I had that breakthrough because Christ came and revealed to me that I was more broken than even I knew. So I had to ask for forgiveness. I had to humble myself, and it was hard. But from that moment on, God has come through in more ways than I have ever imagined. He always does that though, doesn’t He? (See Hebrews 11:40.) God broke me more than ever before, so that He could build me up stronger than I have ever been. I say it so often but I will say it again: He is so good! So why are we scared to hand things over to Him? Now, when those broken feelings creep in, I can conquer them and still be joyful in all circumstances.

I have now been able to walk through the brokenness with Christ daily, rather than wait for the end to see God’s faithfulness. God is working in the midst of our brokenness. He is faithful in the past, He will be faithful in the future, and He is faithful in the present! He is using our pain. When we can ask God to come and work in us and use us in the midst of our hurting, it is one of the most humbling and courageous things we can do. Just remember, it will all be in His timing, not ours. What better feeling than to be used for Christ’s kingdom daily, regardless of what state of our life we are in. Because in Christ, there is joy and beauty without end.

Say this prayer with me:

Lord, I am broken. Show me how to lay my brokenness down at Your feet to see Your beauty in the midst of it. Use me and shape me even now. I pray I will not keep waiting, but claim my brokenness for beauty right now. You are so good Lord, and all Your plans for me are for my good. Give me a heart, eyes, and ears to hear and see that today. Amen.

Psalm 34:18, 19: “The Lord is close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. The righteous may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers them from them all.”

Psalm 51: “My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart. You, God, will not despise.”