Cracked Pots
Jeremiah 18:6
O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.
My friend was telling me about a type of art that makes the most of flaws rather than hiding them. It is called kintsugi. If a piece of pottery is broken, many people simply throw it out. Others may try to glue it, but it hardly ever looks as good and will probably not hold water. The Japanese have a different approach. They put the broken pieces together and instead of glue, they seal them with molten bronze, silver, or gold. This process celebrates the broken pieces. Rather than pretended that the piece is not flawed, the artist uses the cracks as a framework for the beauty. Not only are the pieces more beautiful, they are actually stronger than they were to begin with. They are also much more valuable.
If we are alive, we are broken. Life is hard and knocks us around. We try hard to fix ourselves or at least look like we are fixed. Unfortunately are methods are not effective, whether we use denial, substances or bluster. God never meant for us to deal with brokenness ourselves. We need only look as far as Adam and Eve who sewed fig leaves together to cover their nakedness. God took the life of an animal and made coverings for them. He will do the same for us. Look at the promises he has made to us. .
He gives me beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. Isaiah 61:3.
Therefore I will most gladly boast of my weakness for when I am weak then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:10.
God demonstrate his own love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ dies for us. Romans 5:8
When we let God heal our brokenness, it becomes a testimony to his grace and goodness. our wounds become beautiful to him and we are stronger in the broken places. We can be a living testimony to what he can do for others. Turn your broken places over to God and let him use them for his glory.
