Sometimes our good gets broken.
And we find ourselves left with pieces we don’t know what to do with.
I have a favorite mug. My “GOOD MORNING” mug. I love everything about this mug.
– It feels good in my hands.
– It’s the perfect size for a big cup of coffee.
– it has been part of every morning’s quiet/writing time.
– And it offers a happy message to start each day off right.
And yesterday it broke.
I nearly cried as I saw the slow motion tumble from the cabinet followed by a crash as it hit the granite countertop. It all fell apart.
How would my mornings ever be the same?
It was suddenly purposeless. Just a heap of broken glass. A detached handle and a useless half mug with sharp edges. If I tried to use it, I would get burned or cut myself.
There was nothing left to do but throw it away.
But wait.
Maybe there was more to be had from this brokenness.
I whipped out my phone and took a picture.
This was analogy material.
And suddenly, my cup once again held purpose and meaning.
MY GOOD WAS BROKEN, BUT THE BROKEN WAS GOOD!
And Jesus started speaking….
Anything that I have that is “good”, whether it’s my situation, my plans, my integrity, my relationships, has the potential to experience brokenness at some point.
And while we’re being honest, let’s admit that most of us have experienced that brokenness in at least one of these (or other) areas.
It’s called LIFE.
We are imperfect people living in an imperfect world, so moments and seasons of shatter are inevitable. We experience the pain, the disappointment and the discouragement that comes so naturally after our good has fallen to bits.
Consequentially, our hearts also break.
Purpose seems lost, usefulness unlikely. We can’t find the reason so we assume the only place for the pieces is in the trash. Thrown away and hopefully forgotten.
But what if Jesus has a plan for our broken good?
What if the fallout and it’s residual shards are something He wants to use to make something beautiful? What if He shows us what He can do with our broken hearts, making them stronger than ever? What if the reduction, the loss, actually causes growth and depth and new insight and significance?
Every part of Jesus’ good was broken for us.
His body, heart, mind and soul all took indescribable beatings for our healing and salvation. He was reduced to humiliation, betrayal, denial and death for us. Our good Jesus was broken beyond recognition.
The world looked on and thought the only place for such brokenness was a GRAVE.
Three days later, true life came back to our planet, available to all.
GOOD WAS BROKEN AND THAT BROKEN WAS REALLY, REALLY GOOD.
When we put our broken in Jesus’ hands, He does amazing things. He writes stories and crafts miracles. He uses our shattered bits to touch and encourage and influence others who need to know their brokenness can be healed and used for good, too.
