Devotional for 11/1/15 All Saint's Day
Even though we as Christians are referred to as saints in the Bible, sometimes we may just feel utterly broken. We may have great plans for our future, with years of preparation and expense, yet later we seem to have failed. We may wonder if we have gone down the wrong path, or if we are simply cursed. Perhaps we have family issues that we can't seem to manage. Or maybe we have an activity that continually pulls at us and keeps us from doing the "right" things. Possibly we have done what we thought was a great job, yet we were reprimanded or fired for that very thing. Sometimes, the more we struggle to fix our situations or issues, the worse it becomes until we have sunk so low we feel we can never get back up again. When we feel broken we may feel as though we are worthless and discarded.
Psalm 31:12 NIV "I am forgotten by them as though I were dead; I have become like broken pottery."
But our Lord and Savior never throws us away. He forgives us and can use us when we are broken. In fact, when we are in our weakest most defeated state, sometimes then we are most useful for his purposes. We learn and grow through our trials. As we turn to him and lean on his strength and power to carry us through, we witness to others of his great mercy. When he heals our wounds and lift us up again, we have a unique perspective and can reach out to other broken souls. No matter how shattered we feel, God still loves us and has use for us.
2 Corinthians 12:9a NIV “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
There is beauty in our brokenness. When God puts us back together again, he is like a stained glass artist. Individual shards of colored glass may appear useless and even dangerous, but soldered together in a pleasing pattern by a master at his craft they become a beautiful piece of art. And when God shines forth from within us, it is then that we are most beautiful. Praise God for my brokenness!
2 Corinthians 13:13-14 "All the saints salute you. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all."
Even though we as Christians are referred to as saints in the Bible, sometimes we may just feel utterly broken. We may have great plans for our future, with years of preparation and expense, yet later we seem to have failed. We may wonder if we have gone down the wrong path, or if we are simply cursed. Perhaps we have family issues that we can't seem to manage. Or maybe we have an activity that continually pulls at us and keeps us from doing the "right" things. Possibly we have done what we thought was a great job, yet we were reprimanded or fired for that very thing. Sometimes, the more we struggle to fix our situations or issues, the worse it becomes until we have sunk so low we feel we can never get back up again. When we feel broken we may feel as though we are worthless and discarded.
Psalm 31:12 NIV "I am forgotten by them as though I were dead; I have become like broken pottery."
But our Lord and Savior never throws us away. He forgives us and can use us when we are broken. In fact, when we are in our weakest most defeated state, sometimes then we are most useful for his purposes. We learn and grow through our trials. As we turn to him and lean on his strength and power to carry us through, we witness to others of his great mercy. When he heals our wounds and lift us up again, we have a unique perspective and can reach out to other broken souls. No matter how shattered we feel, God still loves us and has use for us.
2 Corinthians 12:9a NIV “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
There is beauty in our brokenness. When God puts us back together again, he is like a stained glass artist. Individual shards of colored glass may appear useless and even dangerous, but soldered together in a pleasing pattern by a master at his craft they become a beautiful piece of art. And when God shines forth from within us, it is then that we are most beautiful. Praise God for my brokenness!
2 Corinthians 13:13-14 "All the saints salute you. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all."
written by Jan Andersen
This writing gives hope that in any situation we are in that God will mend our brokenness.We have all been in this position...probably more than once. I think we can all testify to the work of God in our lives at times like this. Hang on He will move in His timing. When It does happen we become a testimonial to others of how brokenness can changed and we are changed into something beautiful,
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