Bible, Sin and Salvation, Walking with God

Broken Things

by nanettekirsch

We’re in one of those seasons where everything we own seems to be falling into disrepair–the refrigerator, dishwasher, air conditioner, just to name a few.

No matter how much care and maintenance we provide, things sooner or later break down (and often all at once). It is disappointing…and costly. True of appliances. True of us.

Sin eventually leads to brokenness in each and every one of us. And since the first fall, each of us from every generation, has fallen short of the glory for which God made us and to which he calls us. (Romans 3:23)

We all carry those cringy memories–the ones that still give you a pit in your stomach. You at your worst; your most broken moments of sinfulness and wretchedness. Like an old scrapbook, I find it painful, yet valuable to pull them out every once in awhile and remind myself where I’ve been–and would still be–without Christ.

Only when I am this honest with myself can I again fully experience the joy and gratitude of my true identity in Christ.

No one says it better or more evocatively than Paul in his letter to the Ephesians. Read these words today with fresh eyes:

You were dead through the trespasses and sins in which you once lived, following the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient.

All of us once lived among them in the passions of our flesh, following the desires of flesh and senses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like everyone else.

But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us–even when we were dead through our trespasses–made us alive together with Christ….

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.

Ephesians 2: 1-5, 8

As I move through a world broken daily by sin, I hope I will lift up praise when the next thing I touch breaks down. Yes, it is disappointing…and costly, but it is also a beautiful, blessed reminder that I am no longer broken; I am made whole and new eternally, thanks to the love of God and the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Praise be to God!

14 thoughts on “Broken Things”

  2. Good Morning,
    I’m following up with you regarding your interest in writing for the 2019 October Project – Broken Hope like Broken Crayons Still Work

    If you are going to participate in the October project I will need to know by September the 20th or earlier.

    Keeping all on the same page is hard but these are the specifics!
    The deadline: September 20th, 2019
    Article length: 500 to 900 or fewer words
    Bio: a brief bio about you and a picture to include with the article

    Suggested topic-
    Articles about the Resilience of those in abusive situations,
    Poetry, and/or Prayers,
    Identifying the Hope that is the size of a muster seed and steps that will help.
    Video info created by you on the subject of HOPE
    Ways to bring light and hope to those in domestic violence
    Open to other suggestions! Please e-mail me with your suggestions and how your suggestions will help.

    Please email me if you have any questions or you can reach me at 714.310.5117. Thank you again!

    Sincerely
    Darlene J. Harris

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  3. Timely, Nanette.

    Just how timely is it? In 11 days I will celebrate the 10th anniversary of my ‘death’ and my new life as a new person in Christ. My scrapbook, like everyone’s, contains things I’d rather not look at, but I cannot look at the beauty of the new life God gave me when I cried to Him for help without remembering the horror of the vicious attack on myself that nearly resulted in my death.

    Am I still broken? Of course, but I now have somewhere to lay the things that are broken with the assurance that I will get the help I need to mend them.

    You are wise, and always appreciated.

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  6. A beautiful message. Too often I get caught focusing on the things that are “broken” which causes me to lose sight of all of the perfect things in this world.

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