The Beauty of Brokenness by Holley Gerth

 

John 20:27-28 Then He said to Thomas, ” Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Stop doubting and believe. ” Thomas said to Him, ” My Lord and my God!”

 

There’s an old story about two pots. One was perfect in every way. The other had cracks and broken places. Each day a woman filled the pots with rainwater she had collected and then carried them down the path to her home. The first pot felt proud that she never spilled a single drop. The other felt ashamed because no matter how hard she tried, she lost a lot along the way.

One day the two pots overheard the woman talking with someone who lived nearby. The neighbor exclaimed , ” The flowers along your path are so beautiful! What’s your secret:” The woman answered, ” One of the pots is broken, and the water that spills out helps the flowers grow every day.”

That story reminds me of a song called ” By His Wounds”, a collaboration featuring Mac Powell from Third Day, Mark Hall from Casting Crowns, Steven Curtis Chapman, and Brian Littrell. Each one sings Isaiah 53:5:

But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.

I first heard this song while driving home from work one day. During that time my pain seemed especially pointless. I also felt concern that nothing good would ever come of it. Lord, I silently prayed, how can you even use me when I’m so broken?

As I paused and considered that question, the song above came onto the radio. When the music ended, I began to develop a new perspective on my hurt. I realized that through Christ’s wounds we are healed and , because He lives in us, our wounds can bring healing to others too.

We think that we have to take what’s broken and make it perfect in order to be used by God and bless others. God thinks in a completely different way, however. He took what was perfect, His Son, and made Him broken in order to bring us healing.

If you’re sitting there wondering if God can use you because your life is not as it should be and your heart is aching, know that your greatest hurt will probably be your greatest ministry. Like the disciple Thomas, who doubted until he touched the scars of Jesus, some people in your life need to see your broken places more than your victories.

We’re all like the second pot in the story. God sees purpose in our brokenness even when we don’t, and He can use it to bring forth beauty that blesses those around us.

READ
John 20:24-30

24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side, I will not believe.” 26 Eight days later, his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them, and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” 30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book;

REFLECT

What broken places do you have in your life right now?

How might God be able to use those to help others?

Describe a time when a hurt in your life enabled you later to bring comfort of healing to someone else.

RESPOND

Lord, I’m so glad our brokenness can be used to bring forth something beautiful . I ask You to do that in my life, especially in the area of
Please use my hurts to bring healing to others. Amen.

Here is the Song she spoke of.
http://youtube/6f9WOFB8pYk
“By His Wounds” by Mac Powell, Steven Curtis Chapman, Brian Littrell & Mark Hall