When We’re Overwhelmed by Brokenness

Lately, I’ve been overwhelmed. Maybe you feel as if the weight of the World has been added to the heaviness of your heart, too. Call it politics, a myriad of injustice, division, or the constant noise of opinions across all forms of media. Then, add in personal struggles and before we know it, daily life is on the verge of tearing at the seams of the brokenness we see and feel. 

The picture above seems a bit like an oxymoron – how could a beautiful flower bloom from the spiral 2020 was for everyone? But, what if brokenness was the very thing we desperately needed to become who we were designed to be, blooming in spite of the constant weeds threatening to kill our beautiful potential?

It’s always hard to know what to do with brokenness – no matter what form it comes in. Sometimes, it makes us cry. Other times, we doubt God and question His plan. Recently, I’ve seen a theme of lashing out, raising a political banner, and posting a countless opinions in the name of “I’m right and you’re wrong.” And the labels we place on each other are unfair and based on the shaky foundations of the chaos swirling all around us. 

Evidence of a fallen World is not hard to come by these days; and trust me, I see it in myself everyday when I fall into the trap of letting the world direct my actions. But,God has been challenging me with a concept I hope to convey with humility, authenticity, and grace; and it starts with this thought: 

I wonder if we would be as bold and loud to live our lives as evidence of the hope Jesus died for as we are about typing our opinions behind a screen. 

I truly believe the hope of the Gospel is stronger than the brokenness threatening to shift our God-given purpose. And I also believe God intentionally uses this brokenness to show us just how much He loves His own. 

Clearly, there is no lack of brokenness and hopelessness to wake up to each day; so, the question we need to ask ourselves is: are we living our lives as an extension of His love in the midst of it or are we adding to the brokenness?

We need to be willing to put down our opinions, labels, and dividing comments to raise a different banner – one that doesn’t judge or divide, and that proclaims forever hope.

“ ‘They shall be Mine,’ says the Lord of Hosts, ‘On the day that I make them my jewels. And I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him. Then you shall again discern between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him.’ ” (Malachi 3:17-18)

We are His jewels – unique treasures – destined to live lives of distinction as those who serve Him. We are destined to shine forth like lightning, visible where there is absence of light (John 1:4-5). 

What are our words and actions saying about who we are? Don’t get me wrong, standing up for what you believe in is a good thing, but when the hope of Jesus that is able to bring someone from death to life fades to the background of our conversations and posts, there lies the problem. 

We weren’t created to die on the hill of convincing others to think the same as we do. Much more importantly, we were created to showcase the one who did die on the hill of Calvary. 

So, what we say and do as children of God could be a matter of life or death for the person reading our controversial post or overhearing us judge and label our “friends.” 

A mind and social media feed consumed with masks or vaccines or candidates is not worth missing an opportunity to focus on and share the Eternal hope of the One who broke the dividing wall with His life.

I pray it’s not worth one ounce of energy for anyone of us. 

One click, one word, one small act of kindness could be the difference between being unfollowed by someone who needs the treasure of hope inside of you, or being known for inviting others to come to the One who fully knows and loves ALL people. 

So, use your passions, gifts, resources, and platforms to spread the healing fragrance of His love. Because one day, what we see will no longer be, and what we do now will either count or be lost for all eternity.

And much like the flower standing tall, brave, and beautiful in the picture above, so our lives can be as we proclaim His love loud and unashamed through the tears no one sees or the heartbreak of the news we see on tv. 

Because the death and resurrection of Jesus is more than enough to light up any darkness, dissipate any division, and create unimaginable beauty from any brokenness. 

Now that’s a banner I’m excited to raise high! 

Much love,

Dee