“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” Psalm 51:17
We can look at Scripture and be assured that God uses all things, even the broken pieces of our lives. He will carefully hold each piece in His hand until just the right time, and then He uses it for good to help someone else. After we have been healed of painful hurts and then repent for our own sinful responses, our testimony of God’s redemption is complete.
Before repentance, we tend to blame others or live in denial, thinking we do not have any problems. It’s as if we have pure water flowing from our lips and they have muddy water coming from theirs. After being healed we can begin to see our sinful responses and how they have hurt the one who hurt us, as well as others around us over whom we have influence. It is during the process of repentance that our pride is broken and we can clearly see our own sin.
It was not until Jacob’s natural strength was broken, when “his hip was wrenched” (Gen. 32:25) at Peniel, that he came to the point where God anointed him with spiritual strength.
Once the poor and humble widow broke the seal on her only remaining jar of oil and began to pour, God miraculously multiplied the oil to pay her debts and thereby supplied her means of support (2 Kings 4:1-7). All her needs were met because God used what had been broken.
Once Jesus took “the five loaves…and broke them” (Luke 9:16), the bread was multiplied to feed the five thousand. It was through the very process of the loaves being broken that the miracle occurred.
Once Mary broke her beautiful “alabaster jar of very expensive perfume” (Matt. 26:7), the true value was revealed. God uses broken things. Humbly take every broken piece of your life and give it the Lord. Don’t try to glue it, fake it or fix it; simply release it.
Now, trust in Him to pass His hand over every broken piece of your life and use every piece. Trust and wait on Him to turn all things around and use them for your good. Stay humble before the Lord and He will lift you up.
Written by Denise Boggs