Strength in Brokenness

I am broken.

I won't lie.  I won't sit here and type how whole and complete I am... I am not.  As a matter of fact, I don't think anyone is whole.  We are all broken in some place or another and it is in that brokenness that we are weak... in that weakness that we search for Strength...

I have begun taking prayer walks every week.  It is remarkable, in the quiet stillness of a place, how God will  show me the simpleness I am often lacking when I lay down the whir for that quiet time.

With heart messages of love and grace lately, I sat on a stump looking out and praying for understanding in current areas of brokenness.

Alone and still I gazed out upon this tree.  A recent message rings in my ears; Grace strengthens us, it helps us weather the storms.

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.  

- 2 Corinthians 12:9

In God's economy, weakness is what we should boast about.  That's what Chris Lautsbaugh tells me.  I can't argue, I know he is right.

We live in societies that tell us to be strong, show strength, do things that reflect strength... who are we impressing?  Is it so bad to say, "Yup, I screw that up all the time?"  Wouldn't it say more if others knew we had weaknesses too?

"Come Thou Fount" came to mind as I prepared to write this.  A song which is more like an anthem... an acknowledgement of blessings and weaknesses.  A declaration of understanding Whose grace covers our failings.  Whose devotion overcomes our falterings.

The final verse speaks most intimately to my heart today:

O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I'm constrained to be!
Let thy goodness like a fetter
Bind my wandering heart to Thee
Prone to wander Lord I feel it
Prone to leave the God I love
Here's my heart Lord, take and seal it
Seal it for Thy courts above

I am broken.  I will always be broken.  But I trust the Lord will heal me again and again.  Each leak that springs, he will repair and bring me towards whole until that day I step into the place His grace has prepared.

May you rest in his love and grace today... to know your brokenness is shared, your brokenness makes you strong because in  your weakness, HE is there to make you strong.

Many sweet blessing,

 

Come thou fount of every blessing
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace
Streams of mercy never ceasing
Call for songs of loudest praise
Teach me some melodious sonnet
Sung by flaming tongues above
I'll praise the mount I'm fixed upon it
Mount of Thy redeeming love

Here I raise my Ebenezer
Hither by Thy help I come
And I hope by Thy good pleasure
Safely to arrive at home
Jesus sought me when a stranger
Wondering from the fold of God
He, to rescue me from danger
Interposed His precious blood

O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I'm constrained to be!
Let thy goodness like a fetter
Bind my wandering heart to Thee
Prone to wander Lord I feel it
Prone to leave the God I love
Here's my heart Lord, take and seal it
Seal it for Thy courts above

Linking up today with Mom's Mustard Seeds, Women Living Well, Seeds of Faith, Internet Cafe and A Holy Experience.