I was trying to sleep the other night and the word “broken” popped into my head. By this point, knew that sleep was not going to happen anytime soon, so I decided to investigate this thought.
There are lots of forms of brokenness. Structural brokenness: I work and live in a building that is older and things start breaking down with age. Visible physical brokenness: This past semester I had three of my staff on crutches. Internal physical brokenness: I have hypothyroidism and adrenal fatigue, which means that even though you can’t see my brokenness, it’s there. There’s also heart break: I’ve lost a couple of friendships over the last few years. Finally, distance from God: which means my interactions with Him aren’t always what they should be.
What I realized about each of these situations was that there is a lot of brokenness in my life. Each of these situations affects my life. I was saddened by the amount of brokenness. The Lord was gracious in this conversation and started bringing to mind some of His character traits:
He is close to the broken! Psalm 34:18, “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”
He desires healing for His children! Isaiah 61:1-3, “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion – to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes. The oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.”
He is a healer! Psalm 147:3, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”
My prayer this year is to experience God’s healing in my life and the lives of my residents. I’m resting in the knowledge that the Lord will heal me in the areas He chooses and that I will have growth in the areas that remain broken for this time. What sweet knowledge Jeremiah 17:14 is and it is a verse I can hold close to my heart, “Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for you are my praise.”
Adventures of a Single Pretzel 