“And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.” Jeremiah 18:4
We were sleeping beautifully one night several years ago when we were violently awakened with a loud “CRASH”! I crept out of the bedroom to the family room. There on the floor was our big, beautiful picture of a bear in the wilderness. It had always hung above our fireplace mantel since we obtained it. Now it lay on the floor. Miraculously only the frame was damaged but it was still broken. We had to have it repaired.
This picture is special to us. It has a story behind it. We were sad when it was broken because it was precious to us and we repaired it so we could have it whole again. We actually ended up fixing the original frame. Is that original frame the same as it was before? No. Is it whole again? Yes. It is fixed, repaired, glued and doing the job intended for it – holding together glass and a photograph. If you look closely enough, you might see a slight crack in the seam but it’s barely there.
The definition of broken is: violently separated into parts; shattered.
When we have a broken item, we tend to throw it away unless we feel it can be fixed. Sometimes it can and looks as good as new. Other times we can fix it but you can still see maybe the cracks and seams still that we fixed. But most often we tend to throw broken things away.
But, our God is not in the business of throwing broken people away. He loves them and seems to be drawn to them. What is it that attracts Him to broken people? Why does God love broken people? Let’s look at three reasons.
Broken People See Their Need Of God
You’ve heard, “God helps those who help themselves.” No – the Bible reflects that God helps those who see they can NOT help themselves. They KNOW they need God! When we are broken then we recognize our need for God and we will come to Him. When we call on Him, He is there to help. People who don’t recognize their brokenness never understand their need for God and therefore refuse to call upon Him.
A good example is found in Luke 18:11-13. Look at the difference between the Pharisee and the publican. I think we can tell who the broken one was. I think we know who went home justified. “The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.”
We also need to think with the Psalmist in 34:18 – “The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.” How wonderful!
Broken People Help Other Broken People
At some point in our lives, we have all been hurt, crushed, broken, bruised, troubled and in need of help from God. To know what another person is going through is to have empathy. This is the essence of being broken. When we understand what it is to be broken then we can in turn help others. Yes, broken people help broken people.
I believe whatever you go through in life is meant as YOUR testimony in order to help other people. God led me down a dark path into light and it was hard. I was broken. I was so broken. However, through it all, God was near and a comfort. He taught me so much. Years later, as I was healing and growing,
I asked God to help me use MY testimony of a broken and cracked soul to help others. God took me from broken and cracked to glued back together and able to grow and prosper spiritually. God has put people into my path to encourage and comfort them in whatever state of brokenness they are in. I’m truly humbled by these opportunities.
II Cor. 1:3-4 says, “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”
If you have been broken, God wants to use that. Go help someone in need. Remember how you felt and be a good witness and testament of God’s divine comfort and peace in your life.
Broken People Become Trophies Of God’s Grace
What amazes me is God can take the worst of sinners and make them a great example of His amazing grace. Can you think of anyone in the Bible like that? How about Saul (later named Paul)? Let’s look at some verses on Saul’s (Paul’s) life and the changes in him. How did God heal his brokenness?
Acts 8:3 – “As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.” We come down to Acts 9:1-2 and he is STILL doing things to hurt Christians. “And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.”
But in God’s grace and wisdom, Paul found salvation on that road to Damascus and his life was powerfully changed. Broken, he was healed and glued back together to go on and do great (and I mean GREAT) things for God. The beauty of Paul’s story is God can change ANY heart and heal the brokenness. That can be your story!
Brokenness – we might be broken – we might feel pulled down or cracked and spilling out but we don’t have to continue that way. God is there. He wants you to come to Him for comfort and healing. God is in control. Let’s leave our broken pieces in His hands to fix. Zechariah 1:13 – “And the Lord answered the angel that talked with me with good words and comfortable words.”
Let the words of this song flood through your soul as you listen to my husband play.