Your Brokenness Is Welcome Here
In the midst of chaos, our natural inclination is to run and hide our brokenness behind the mask of perfection and put togetherness. But Jesus calls us to run to Him in our messy imperfection. He says to us in Matthew 11:28 – 30:
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy lade, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden light.
Hypothetically (this was never stated in the Bible), Jesus is telling us, "Come. Your brokenness is welcome here. Come as you are: hurt, angry, broken, confused, sad, joyful. Come as you are and let me heal you and use this brokenness for My glory." He is not asking us to present to Him a picture perfect. A picture that says my life is together. One that says I’ve been a great witness to others and shared the Gospel picture to them. He is asking us to come to Him, as we are, in our brokenness.
But when my parents split, my major is suspended, I lose everything in a house fire, my boyfriend breaks up with me, I was sexually assaulted, diagnosed with celiacs disease, lost three people who I was close with within 24 hours of each other, and lost a close friend in a car accident three states away, I surely am allowed a little self-pity and anger, right?
This is my story. All of these things happened these past two years. Some, right after the other like a runaway train car. The first year - my parents split, my friend was killed in a car accident, and my major was suspended. I did it on my own, hid my brokenness under the mask of perfect grades and a perfect appearance. I did it under an “I have my life put together and what is this thing called brokenness” mentality. Let me tell you, it didn’t work. There were so many days when I felt as though I was drowning in the waves and calling for help. It seemed like there was no life boat to rescue me.
The second time around, it took a little more prodding from God. It took God relentlessly pursuing me and asking me to surrender to His goodness. Asking me to come to Him just as I was. And I tested the waters and it was okay, but not enough. The third time I was assaulted and the only way I could make it through the day was by total reliance on Him. That is when I finally came, broken pieces and all, and fully surrendered to His goodness. He is using that brokenness for His glory and healing this shattered heart slowly. He is transforming this hurt, scared, angry child into one that walks in peace, forgiveness, and strength.
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. ~ Romans 8:28
He promises time and time again that during these times of brokenness, He is still working through this pain for His glory - if we completely surrender to Him.
Elizabeth Elliot has this wonderful quote that depicts this picture of God using our brokenness for His glory:
We want to avoid suffering, death, sin, ashes. But we live in a world crushed and broken and torn, a world God Himself visited to redeem. We receive his poured-out life, and being allowed the high privilege of suffering with Him, may then pour ourselves out for others.
I think what she is saying is broken people who allow God to permeate through their brokenness help broken people find wholeness in Christ.
When we face suffering, we can consider it a privilege because our beautiful Savior Jesus suffered all for the sake of redeeming us from our brokenness. Because we were once broken and now redeemed, we can shine as light houses shining the light of Christ and point those who are broken towards the beautiful redemption of the Savior.