Gifts in Brokenness

Reflections of a Broken Mug

“Gifts in Brokenness”

Jamie Baker-Douglin

I was so touched by this gift, and I adored it for 3 main reasons. 

1. My primary love language is Words of Affirmation. 

See what is imprinted on the cup? There is the scripture from ester, “Maybe you were born for a time such as this”, a heart, and the word courage. 

Additionally, what is not visible in this picture are the encouraging words written on the outside wrapping paper. They are, “I believe in You”.  

2. My second love language is Receiving Gifts. I really appreciate receiving gifts that are thoughtful. And, I also love giving gifts.

3. The scripture was meaningful, because it reminded me of something someone said to me years ago that I never forgot. And it was like a God wink to me and really connected to my spirit.

Needless to say, I was extremely upset that I broke this precious gift out of my carelessness. 

My spirit was crushed. But even with brokenness, there is always God's gift of restoration that which was once broken. 

DAVID'S BROKEN SPIRIT 

The whole of Psalm 51 is titled “A Prayer of Repentance", I encourage you to read the whole Psalm and notice how fitting the title is. 

King David wrote Psalm 51 after the prophet Nathan exposed the sins he committed with Bethsheba and to Uriah. 

In brief, prior to David committing these sins, Uriah was a loyal and mighty man of war in David’s army. Once while Uriah was out warring, King David slept with Uriah's wife Bethsheba and impregnated her. To cover up the scandal, Kind David sent for Uriah to return home from war and be with his wife. David was hoping that Uriah with then think the child was his. But Uriah wanted to remain a loyal warrior and would not have sex with his wife. So then David sent Uriah back into war and had him killed. 

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, These, O God, you will not despise. ~ Psalm 51:17 NJK

This scripture is an excerpt from Psalm 51 that David wrote. Here David paralelles his broken spirit to a sacrifice to God for his sins. 

Before Christ, animal sacrifices were offered to God to cover sins. But here, in David's true repentance he recognizes the inner soul sacrifice of giving his broken spirit, caused by his sin, and crushed heart to God. He understood that God would accept his repentence and not turn away from it.

JOB'S BROKEN SPIRIT

Sin is not the only circumstance for brokennes. Sometimes brokenness can happen when difficult things happen to us. 

My spirit is broken; my days are extinct; the graveyard is ready for me. Job 17:1 ESV 

Job talks about being broken and shattered too. Alternatively, his breaking was not caused by sin. 

Job was considered an upright man before God. Yet, he experienced tremendous loss. His children were killed. His livestock was stolen. His servants were also killed. His body was stricken with boils. And his friends accused him of sin that he did not commit. 

But God restored all that Job lost. God blessed Job with twice the amount of livestock that he had before. God also blessed Job with more children, and he had so much resources that he was able to give his daughters an inheritance when usually the boys received the inheritance. 

RESTORATION of BROKENNESS

I want you to consider your heart. Consider if there is any brokenness of your heart and spirit. 

Psalm 34:18 ESV 

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

Psalm 147:3 ESV

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

Like David or Job, we might experience brokenness within us. But also like David and Job, we can experience healing by allowing God to mend the brokenness.  

How can we reconnect the broken pieces and become restored? Guess what .... we cannot. And if you think you can, then you are mistaken. Go ahead and try, and come to the point of realization that you can’t. But there is only one who can restore the brokenness and renew us.

Eph 2: 8- 9 says  - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

Jesus is the gift from God that will save the crushed in spirit, heal the brokenhearted, and bind up their wounds. 

Why would Jesus want to heal and redeem our brokenness?

Because he loves us. Luke 19:10 says that he came to seek and save us. 

Jesus is a gift freely given. Says Romans 6:23. 

While the payment for sin is death, the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ. The “through” is important. That means that we have to accept Jesus into our heart and follow after Him.

God does really love us. 

Eph 2 goes on to say in verse 10

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

And that is a result of being restored. That we walk in the good works that the Lord has for us to do. These works that he has already prepared for us to do. 

What are those good works? I can tell you that they involve spreading His Gospel and being His light. Pointing our children to Him. And allowing his spiritual gifts to flow through us and serve others as it says in 1 Peter 4:10. 

To give a testimony to share with others. What an awesome testimony Job ended with. He received double. 

1 Peter 4: 10 CSB Says: Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God.

I see my husband as gift to me and my childtren. Likewise, you are a gift to your family. God loves you and values you. He wants to restore your brokenness.  He wants to use you for his purpose to do good works for His kingdom.

Job became a blessing to His family. He provided. Even his daughters received an inheritance. He saw four generations of his family line. 

FINDING GRACE IN BROKENNESS

Part of the song “Gracefully Broken” by Matt Redman and Tasha Cobbs says:

"Here I am, God arms wide open, Pouring out my life, Gracefully broken

All to Jesus now (yes), All to Jesus now

I'm holding nothing back, Holding nothing back

I surrender (I surrender)"

If you feel broken, you can still be used by God. His gifts can overflow from you to other people. But you have to bring your brokenness to HIm. Ask for forgiveness if you need to. Ask him to heal and mend you, if necessary. Ask him to save your soul, if necessary. 

You know in your heart what you need to bring and say to God. 

Remember that He is the creator of all. 

What makes you think that he can’t use your brokenness or your broken situation for his glory. I know you might feel like a hot mess now. And your situation may look irreparable. But guess what...God can make greatness out of nothing and He can work miracles out of a mess.

Surrender your brokenness to him and allow him to restore you.