When the Bottom Falls Out

"Sometimes we need to let the cracked things break and fall apart 

so He can put the pieces back together how they were meant to be." 

Yes- I have some areas in my life that are broken. Yes- I have tried to hold these pieces together avoiding pain from all the sharp pieces that will fly when it all falls apart. Yes- I know I need to let them go and fall so the Lord can piece them back together how he sees fit. 

I got this word back in January and it has been swimming around in my head ever since. But what have I done with it? To be honest- not a whole lot. 

So the Lord gave me another word. Actually, a tangible word because he knows me that well and knows what will get to the core of my heart.  

I was in the garage the other day doing some cleaning up (nesting has officially set in) when I picked up a box and the bottom fell out. All of the contents in the box went everywhere and needless to say, I was not too happy. After a bit of huffing and puffing I gathered another box to start picking up the mess. When low and behold I found not one, not two, but three $100 travel gift cards that neither my husband or I remembered we had. I was not sure they would still be valid, but when I called the number on the card I was told they could be reissued. What?!?! What a nice surprise! 

And then I heard the whisper- "Remember our conversation about broken things?" 

If that box had not broken and fallen apart, I'm not sure I would have found those gift cards. If I did, it probably would have taken a lot more effort on my part.  See how kind the Lord is with our broken pieces? Sometimes we have to sift through the sharp pieces of life to get to the treasure the Lord has for us. We may not always know what is waiting on the other side, but if we can just take that one step of faith and then another step and another step He will see us through. However, just because I found the treasure among the mess, does not mean there was not damage that had to be tended to. There were glass pieces that were broken and if left unattended, they would harm someone else that came along so they had to be thrown away. Just like in life- some of the broken pieces will need to be removed in order to get us where the Lord is leading. 

Here's another perspective from Ann Voskamp's devotion, The Way to Abundance:
"The only way for anything to grow- is for something to break. Growth only happens when the status quo is broken. Change can only happen when what is- is broken. Do not be afraid of broken things; this is the beginning of changing things, of growing things."

How's that for perspective when the bottom is falling out?

"He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds." Psalm 147:3