Broken Pieces In The Hands Of Our Redeemer

Pieces lay scattered, after they fell.  Shells, broken by the waves and the breaking open to release what is inside.  Sometimes, the pieces are shattered beyond putting back together.  

What do we do when our lives resemble broken and sometimes shattered pieces??  Brokenness that leaves me feeling broken and stunned, often without words.

Is there any hope? Is there any purpose that remains?

We wonder.  We grieve, but because of Jesus - there is - a purpose.  There is hope and something that - can still be - in the midst of broken, and hard, and shattered pieces.

Japanese art called, Kintsugi, is the method of taking the broken pieces and melding them together with a gold substance.  The end result is something completely different, no longer the same but a new beauty that now includes the broken.  The broken, in the hands of the one who is creating something else, finds new beauty with the pieces he holds.

Jesus holds out His hands and says, "Bring them to Me."  

In His hands, the broken pieces find new meaning and a new purpose.  In His hands, possibilities lie within the rubble.

The finished product is whole and complete again.  The finished product is the broken and wholeness combined to find its new purpose, useful and beautiful.

After our breakings, there is hope when we take the pieces to Jesus and allow Him to reshape, make something new with the broken pieces.  The end product won't be the same, but it will include the broken and wholeness, melded together with gold that's be tried in the furnace and held in the hands of a loving and faithful God who is our Father.

But Jesus must have the pieces.

Bring Them Here To Me

 

The crowd met Jesus on the shore side as He was enroute to the mountain to be alone.  He just heard of His friend, John the Baptist's death and needed some time alone.  Alone with His Father.

This crowd that met Him, moved Jesus, and He felt compassion along with His grief.  He took the time to heal, all day actually.

At the end of the day, the disciples wanted to send the crowd away to find something to eat, but Jesus told them to feed the people.

Tired.

Hungry.

A long day.

How in the world and with what would they feed this crowd??!!

The disciples told Jesus that we only have five loaves and two fish, how in the world will that feed all of these people??

Jesus said five words, "Bring them here to Me."  Matthew 14:18 (NAS)

With those pieces, He broke them and fed five thousand men plus women and children.  Over five thousand were satisfied that evening.  Jesus took what was and multiplied it to be enough.

Jesus also wants the broken pieces.  He wants to bring wholeness, healing, and redemption to what lays shattered around us.

He came to set the prisoner free. Free from bitterness, pain, and unforgiveness.  He came to bind up the wounded and brokenhearted.  He cares.  He wants to bring healing.  (Isaiah 42:3)

But we have to want it.  He cannot do anything with the pieces whether they be whole or if they are broken unless we bring them to Him.

Bring what hurts.

Bring the little you have.

Bring what you hold in your hand (within your heart). The anxiety. Fears. Doubts. Your faith.  Your trust in Him. Your desire to know Him.

And watch what He does with it.

Do the thing - whether it be noticed or not.  Whether it is 'big or small'.

Spend time with our Father.

Make the choice to believe Him.

Speak the word of encouragement.

Take the cup of water to someone.

Pick up the piece of trash.

Rejoice with the success of another.

Weep along with someone in their sorrow.

Go to Jesus with what you have and see what He will do - breaking what you have for more and to reach in places you had no idea could be reached or tenderly taking the broken pieces you bring with tears - to create beauty out of the ashes and pain.

With Jesus, we will be satisfied.  He will satisfy us in the places of our heart and soul where it matters the most.  He is the Living Water that quenches and satisfies.

Take a moment with Him.  Know Him, right now, in the middle of the hard and in the joyous moments.  Stay with Him and find His satisfying love to be enough for you. (Psalm 90:14)