Beauty in Brokenness
Have you ever dropped something valuable and then felt sick to your stomach when it shattered? Our natural instinct is to sweep up the pieces and toss them. Broken things feel useless, don’t they?
Many times, we can’t bring ourselves to throw it away, but we’ll set it aside. As a dad of two little girls ( and a baby on the way), I see this all the time at home. When something breaks, the first reaction is often to hide it. A toy gets snapped, a dish slips, and suddenly it’s tucked behind a couch cushion, hidden under a bed, or simply stored in the very back of the cabinet. Why? Because brokenness feels like failure.
However, in Japan, there’s an art form called Kintsugi. Once a pot breaks, Instead of hiding the cracks, artisans repair the broken pottery with lacquer and powdered gold. The fractures aren’t hidden; they’re highlighted. The result? A piece that is even more valuable and beautiful than before.
Can I tell you this is what God would do with us if we let him?
We all have cracks — the hurts, regrets, failures, and disappointments that life has left behind. Some of us try to glue them back together on our own, hoping no one notices. Others sweep them under the rug and pretend they’re not there. But God has a better way.
Romans 8:28 says, “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.”
Notice it doesn’t say all things feel good. Hurt doesn’t feel good. Betrayal doesn’t feel good. Loss doesn’t feel good. However, in the hands of the Father, even the broken pieces can be worked into something beautiful.
Isaiah 43:19 reminds us, “Look, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.”
I hope you remember today that the cracks don’t disqualify you — they actually become part of your story. The gold in the seams is what sets you apart.
Maybe you feel like your life has too many cracks to be useful. Can I encourage you today? Don’t hide your broken pieces like a broken toy tucked under the couch. Bring your broken pieces to the Father. Don’t throw them away. Let Him do His healing work.
And when He does, your story won’t just be “fixed.” It will shine. Others will see the goodness of God written in your scars — and find hope for their own.
So the next time you see a broken piece of pottery, remember: in God’s hands, nothing is wasted. The cracks are where His glory shines the brightest.
