Broken crayons still colour.
I stumbled across this quote over a year ago and saved it to my phone! Do you ever do that? See a quote , then save it to your phone or post it up onto social media because it speaks so loudly and clearly to you?
Well this quote resonates with me, because once upon a time I felt very broken and I did not see that in my brokenness I could be used for greatness. I knew I was a big mess, and I used to believe that my life would always be one big mess, and I did not think that I deserved greatness!
Broken defined as :
Reduced to fragments; fragmented, ruptured; torn; fractured, not functioning properly; out of working order.
Ever felt like that?
There was a stage in my life where I used to feel extremely empty, unfulfilled, and very lonely. Therefore I would go out most nights, get completely intoxicated, and date who ever I wanted, whenever I wanted. But none of those things satisfied, filled me, or made me feel whole and content. They were more passing moments to fill a quick fix, to numb the real issues, to numb the real pain that lingered in the background.
There is only so much a person can do to fill this kind of pain until it all catches up with you, and you’re left overwhelmed by all of your brokenness.
You have two options:
1) Keep running and numbing the pain.
OR
2) Face it and deal with it once and for all.
But how does one face it all?
1) Know that you are not alone
The good news is that we don’t have to face it all by ourselves. A very comforting and freeing moment for me was when I learnt to leave all of my pain into God’s hands.
“But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me” – 2 Timothy 4 : 17
2) You can trust in Him
I knew I could trust God with my very deepest hurts and mistakes. I understood that he loved me even in my darkest season, and that he wanted to see me restored, happy and well on all levels.
“I have made you. I will carry you; I will sustain you, and I will rescue you ” – Isaiah 46 : 4
3) Surrender
I remember on one particular afternoon where I just sat down on the couch and said to God, “Okay God, I’m not sure how to do this, but I am tired of carrying it all by myself, and I am tired of feeling this way, please help me!”. I then felt this deep sense of freedom, and peace, and I just began to cry, and I let it all go.
“When we out our cares in His hands, He puts His peace into our hearts”
4) Forgive yourself and others
Whilst on this journey of restoration and healing I became aware of forgiving others that had hurt me, and I became aware of actively forgiving myself for hurting others.
“When a deep injury is done to us, we never heal until we forgive” – Nelson Mandela
5) Journey of Grace
It was a journey, and it took time to sift through everything, but God was there all the while, holding my hand, cheering me on, showing me how to forgive and how to let go. You can never rush the process, and everyone’s healing process looks so different to that of someone else’s. Be gentle with yourself, and take each day as it comes.
“My Grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” – 2 Corinthians 12 : 9
Broken crayons still colour
You may feel overwhelmed by the brokenness in your life, and you may not even see the potential of what lies within you. But know that your past, your hurt, your brokenness does not define you.You were created in the image of a living God, who is wanting to help carry your hurt for you, a God who wants to see you healed and restored. If God could do it for me, he most certainly can and will do it for you!
“Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny” – C.S. Lewis
If you feel that this is something that you need to do in order to move forward out of a broken space and into a life filled with hope and purpose, then may I encourage you to click on the link below to find out more.