Only for those whose hearts have been broken

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Crushed

I’m not talking about puppy love here (not to take anything from the puppies-they’re important, too!). But I’m talking about the big dogs stuff in life. The things that crush us. What comes to your mind, what has left you crushed?

What has left you crushed?

Infertility, death, miscarriage, disease or diagnosis, broken relationships, prodigal child, divorce, unmet expectations, betrayal, unattached or distant spouse, a childhood no child should ever have to endure, relocation away from all things comfortable and safe, financial dismay, addiction, lies you believe and beat yourself up over, loss of job, depression, the weight of loneliness…what? What is it that has crushed you?

Soothes me

My favorite place in the whole world is on the beach. I’m not soaked up with sunblock lying on a towel, but I’m there walking along and finding myself so close in communion with the Lord, the Creator of it all. The peaceful sounds of lapping waves wash out the clamor in my ears, the sand under my toes soothes the conflict in my head, the gentle breeze calms the clutter in my heart. I love being at the beach. As I was walking along on one of those days, I looked down and saw a myriad of crushed shells. Once beautifully whole; the pressures of both ordinary and extraordinary times has now left them in pieces. Take a closer look, what do you see?

Broken and crushed, purposed

Mangled pieces. Broken and crushed by the weight of the world. Is it ugly? Useless? Worthless? No, none of that. I see beauty, a foundation on which my feet can walk along the salty water and a great story of restoration in brokenness. There’s a purpose for these pieces, and there’s a purpose for us where the pressures of life have left us hurt, and crushed. When we are broken, when our every strength is depleted, then we learn, or remember anew, how much we need the Lord. There we are left without any hope other than the One we have in Christ. He is the only confidence of hope this this life has to offer.

Our only hope is in Jesus

Those times we get tossed about with the circumstances life brings us, though they hurt and leave us in pieces, remind us that it’s always-even when we live life in our own accord and forget it is so- always when our only hope is in Jesus Himself.

Psalm 51:17 The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.

He meets us

And there He meets us, and He welcomes us.

Psalm 34:18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit.

He heals us

But He doesn’t leave us there in our pain.

Psalm 147:3 He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds.

And for those who belong to Him, there’s purpose~

A purpose in our pain:

James 1:2-4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

A purpose for good:

Romans 8:29 And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.

A purpose for others:

2 Cor 1:4 He comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

But He doesn’t leave us there. In the same frame-the same lifetime, the same crushed and brokenness, there was more…

There was grace, there is grace

There was grace: John 1:16 From His fullness we have all received grace upon grace.

You see it? God is there. He’s going to take our brokenness, as we run to Him, and change us through it! He is Holy, He is loving and gracious. He never changes!

A purpose for restoration!

Psalm 30:11-12 You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, that I might sing praises to you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever!

Psalm 31:1 In you, O LORD, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me!

He is with us

You see, even when all we can see is our hurt and broken pieces shattered about, God is there. When we are left without a breath and our tears have dried up, He still loves us and He is still for us. And, praise God, HE IS ABLE. The promises He makes, He keeps.

Faith to believe

What’s causing your eyes to see only a horribly crushed and broken apart life? Can I encourage you to trust the whole picture of God’s grace and plan? Like Abraham did, when things looked impossible, will you stretch your faith to believe? Even when you can’t see it, He’s there. Look to, run to, Him!

It’s worth it: God counted him as righteous

Romans 4:20-22 Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever He promises. And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous.

As always, feel free to email me or leave me a comment. I’d love to talk with and/or pray for you!