I'm Broken; Are you?
I admit it - I am a broken human. It's nearly impossible to grow up in my situation and not be.
What situation is that, you ask?
We live in a broken world filled with broken people and broken systems. How would I be able to turn out any other way?
Not impossible, but highly improbable.
First, what does "broken" actually mean?
Let's look at https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/broken to be sure:
Definition of broken:
1: violently separated into parts : SHATTERED
3a: made weak or infirm
4a: cut off : DISCONNECTED
5: not complete or full
Shattered. What a great way to describe the state of one born into and growing up in a very abusive environment. Add to that living in this broken world, well, as I said, I am broken.
And yes, growing up in those conditions and circumstances, it makes us weak AND infirm.
If you have ever experienced this, you will agree that we grow up feeling cut off, completely disconnected from reality.
And, until we find healing and become whole, we ARE NOT complete OR full. It is truly impossible to be so.
As you have probably seen in the past and as a friend reminded me of not too long ago, take that word impossible. What other word(s) can you make out of it?
Anyone?
I'm Possible!
Boom!
It is. Possible, that is.
Not easy, and it will take work. LOTS of work. But it IS possible.
I want to share some other words that relate to broken. Check these out:
detonated,
blasted
exploded
cracked,
slivered,
splintered,
split
collapsed,
imploded
demolished,
destroyed,
devastated,
pulverized,
ruinate,
ruined,
wrecked
damaged,
defaced,
disintegrated,
dynamited,
mangled,
mutilated
eradicated,
exterminated,
extirpated,
obliterated,
wiped out
breakable,
brittle,
delicate,
fragile,
frail,
frangible
For anyone claiming to NOT be broken, that list is what those of us who ARE broken are dealing with.
Have you ever been in a car wreck? Your perfect, shiny car becomes a mass of twisted metal, steel, and plastic. Not so pretty. Possibly, not even functional.
Yep, that's what we broken ones feel like. That's what we broken ones are.
Though it feels like it's a terminal condition, take hope, my friends. It is NOT!
Before we go any farther, I want to make something clear:
We ARE all broken. Every. Single. One. Of. Us.
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)
Not one.
Not some.
ALL.
"A person who has constantly accumulated irreputable damage throughout their entire life. Damage which cannot be easily repaired if at all. Also someone who has been beaten into submission by life's adversities or has given up on trying to overcome the obstacles. Urban dictionary.
Another definition of broken. That's it, right there.
Please hear this, my friends. We are all POSSIBLE. We can all be healed and made whole.
How do we know this?
Our Abba tells us this over, and over, and over.
“The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18).
“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt so that you would no longer be slaves to the Egyptians; I broke the bars of your yoke and enabled you to walk with heads held high” (Leviticus 26:13).
“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33)
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).
There is an entire manual on man's brokenness, and Abba's training manual on becoming a healed and whole human. It's called the Bible.
The journey is not easy. In fact, most days it feels impossible.
There's that word again.
In spite of the fact you feel like you just cannot, remember: you ARE Possible! And, you are not alone. You are NEVER alone.
However, there is still a stigma in the world that being broken is a horrible disease with no cure.
NO!!!!! That is NOT true!
There comes a time when we all need to evaluate those who are in our lives, and if they are the people to help us heal. Or, if they need to be let go of, as it were. The voices that feel our head will pretty much determine who or what we believe to be true of ourselves.
We only need, or should only want those who can encourage, motivate, and inspire us to be our better selves. More, to help us be our best selves.
There are books, tapes, TV shows all over the place to offer help.
There are churches that have healing ministries.
There are people who are trained and dedicated to walk you through the valley of brokenness to the mountaintop of being whole and healed.
But guess who needs, nay must make the first move, take the first step.
You guessed it - YOU!
Some are content to go through life, limping along, as a human becoming. That is something we all must go through. But, we must keep moving forward and strive to reach the point we actually are a human being!
It may be the day that we arrive on Abba's doorstep in Heaven. But, the journey must begin today. It must begin to set us on the right path.
I want that.
I can't believe anything other than YOU feel the same way.
Here, however, is where I draw the line. I cannot tell you what will work for you. Even a professional cannot tell you what to do. They can advise. They can guide. They can encourage. You, my friend, must be in the driver's seat and determine the road to your destination.
I can honestly state with faith and confidence that I am on that road. I cannot honestly state with faith and confidence that I have reached my destination yet.
I am still a work in progress. I am still a human becoming. I am still learning and growing.
I still have my eyes on the goal and my heart firmly grounded in and on Abba's Word.
While I can encourage the same to and for you - and I DO - it's up to you to decide on beginning or continuing this journey.
I can invite your to walk with me through it. But, YOU still must take the steps forward.
I can promise, to the best of my ability, to always be available to you if you stumble or fall. I can promise, to the best of my ability, to always help you back onto your feet.
I can promise, to the best of my ability, to always lift you in prayer and lay you in my Abba's Hand.
I can promise that, today, I extend an invitation to YOU to begin YOUR journey.
So, what do you say? Are you ready to state that you, too, are broken?
Bless you, my friend. That's the first step.
Let's continue this journey together and let's allow our Abba to make us the best us that He created us to be!
Ready?