The Bread of Life: Broken

Brokenness
What does it mean to be "broken" in a good way?
As a woman, the word "broken" conjures up images of abuse and  broken-heartedness. These types of broken people feel violated and are looking to be healed of personal wounded-ness. In contrast, when Jesus was broken, he chose to be  poured out as an offering for others.  Like him, when we pour out our lives on behalf of others, it often involves hardship and suffering. Loving people who are unlovely is no easy task. 
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Not only do we live in a world full of hurting people, we in turn have endured being offended and exploited by people who have hurt us. At the same time, we have our own natural limitations, shortcomings and blindspots.
Sorrow is everywhere so I'm asking Jesus to teach me how embrace brokenness in myself and others. I want him show me what he plans to teach me about himself through it. He reveals himself to me when I need Him. What does his word say about it.
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This is new for me. I am learning not to avoid pain and sorrow. At times, He visits me in my dark places and other times he calls me to walk with someone else in their painful season. He is not asleep. We are not alone.
I’ve walked through craziness and sadness of different varieties in my own life or in lives of my family members.

Addictions
Mental illness
Infertility
Miscarriages
Adoption
Autism
I’ve been there.

You know what? I’ve discovered that he’s faithful in the good stuff like baby showers and school concerts, but he’s also faithful in the bad stuff like infertility and miscarriages.

He’s faithful in the midst of my own personal broken places not only  when I do a good job of being a patient, gentle mother, but Jesus is also faithful when I lose my temper or I act selfishly, like when I hide in the bathroom and eat a candy bar which I have no intention of sharing. Sometimes I blow it… big time.

The truth is God wants us to stay connected to him when we are at our best but also when we are at our worst. He get’s it. Being human.

God is not intimidated by the intensity of your emotions.

He’s not afraid of your tantrums

He’s not offended by you tears.

The same grace of God which was made available to us because Jesus died to cover our sins, is not just for the moment of salvation it is grace for our continual connection to the Holy Spirit in everyday life.
The Holy Spirit has the power to comfort you when you’re hurting.

News Flash: God is not honored when you realize that you’re mad at God  and then stay away from his presence because you’re disappointed and frustrated and then you feel condemned and  guilty.

“I shouldn’t feel this way about God. I’ll bet he’s offended by my childishness. He’s annoyed by my lack of faith.”

Stop waiting to feel more holy. Stop pouting.

Stop waiting until you feel perky to worship God.
Don’t stay away.

God is not:

Exasperated
Upset
Insulted or
Annoyed

He isn’t disillusioned with you. He never had any illusions about you in the first place.
He knows you.

He saw you when you when
You sulked
You raged

He knows about your:
Orphaned Heart
Broken home
The abuse
Shame
Infertility
Health concerns
Miscarriage
Developmentally disabled kids

God is there in the bad moments too
He’s in the valley
With all my falling down and blindspots. God knew.

My feeling orphaned, broken-hearted…he gets it.
Actually, my weaknesses are actually my uniqueness.
The very seasons that you’ve hated could be positioning you to be
uniquely qualified to help others.
God is able to love you completely through all of it.

He has jewels and gems which are facets of  himself to show you. Aspects of his nature which are showcased you in the velvet darkness of your crap-fest. “God who are you going to be for me now that I need you in a way like never before?” Ask him. Then stand back and see him be glorious in your situation and in the lives of those around you.