brOKen
I’m whole even though I’m broken.
It seems like a contradiction, but so does most of what Christ calls us to. The last will be first. The servant is the greatest. Give and you’ll have enough.
The paradox of faith doesn’t make sense in my logical head. I guess that’s what makes it faith.
I’m flawed. Imperfect. Shattered.
I’m wounded and marred.
But I am still whole.
Because He made me whole.
Complete. Adequate. Sufficient.
I am enough because I AM is enough.
Long ago, a friend reminded me that I may be broken, but I am ok.
brOKen.
When I let Him fill up my cracked places and shine through my impurities, I am brokenly whole. Wholly broken.
There is beauty in my ashes. Life in my death. Light in my darkness. There is triumph in my tragedies. Strength in my vulnerability.
No matter what labels others stick on me — or even that I stick on myself — His banner over me is love.
I am loved.
I am His.
All my broken bits and shattered pieces.
Whole and complete, in Him. Not in the fulfillment of my dreams or in the relationships I cherish. Not in the work of my hands or my strivings for perfection.
Whole and complete, in Him.
I’m forcing myself to “lift my eyes”. To look Him full in the face. To let my brokenness dissolve in the restoration and redemption that can only come from His hand.
I want to let Him love me to shalom.
Where I can be broken and more-than-ok all at the same time.
brOKen.
this is beautiful…i think we all need this…
@gritandglory says:
i know i need this reminder often.
Love this! Love your perspective on this Alece!
Have you read the book by Louie Giglio called “I am not, but I know I AM”?
Really good. Talks to what you are saying here.
@gritandglory says:
yes!!! really loved it!
Alece,
There are tears in my eyes as I type this. That was so beautiful and I needed to hear that more than you coud possibly know. As broken as I am right now it is good to know that no matter how broken and battered I am I am whole in HIM! Thank you for your constant inspiration, it really helps me to push forward when all I want to do is give up.
@gritandglory says:
was SO good to read your comment, greg. thank you.
to be ok, despite. that’s faith. thank you for your beautiful words today.
@gritandglory says:
thanks, kendal!
@pa3cia says:
only at the foot of the cross do we face the reality of how wretched and broken we are and yet how whole and loved we truly are.
this is why we serve Him. this is why we love Him. this is why we are passionate to tell others about Him;
i pray that you continue to find healing and wholeness in His presence my friend.
@gritandglory says:
yes! i love thinking of it that way — that at the cross we can fully see ourselves as both broken and whole. such is the scandalous power of grace.
love you, C1!
“I am loved”
“I am His”
That’s the best two punch combination in existence.
When we are all broken down and scarred by life. He consistently reminds us that we are loved and that we are His. I love to chew on those two promises.
Thanks for the reminder.
@gritandglory says:
i need to keep coming back to this reminder as well…. thanks, moe.
@marniarnold says:
Alece, you speak my heart – friend. You do. I know this post. I live it. It is beautiful to do so too – because He is so beautiful!
Thank you for the wonderful reminder of Whose we are!
@gritandglory says:
so, so glad this resonated with you, marni. thank you.
@maryjohess says:
I love that – brOKen.
A friend once told me as well, “Mary, your no where is God’s now here”
So even though you may feel like you’re nowhere, God says you’re now here. For a reason. For a purpose.
xxx M.
@gritandglory says:
love that. thank you, friend.
@amykiane says:
Beautiful words Alece. I think this should be a prayer for all of us.
@traceepersiko says:
You write so dang well, b’z. I love the exhale of faith your heart is taking. You are believing even though…. your heart is so beautiful. I could wear that word out about your heart.
I see the truth in your words for being wholly broken. Wholly broken takes on the claim that you see because of him. Wholly broken gives him the space to be God. Brokenness is claiming that you see through him, and his eyes wholly broken claims a weakness that surrenders for his true whole.
Loving your stunning heart. Wish you could see how well you write.
@gritandglory says:
thank you for your words of encouragement, BF. it means so much hearing it from you. thank you for believing in me… even in my brokenness.
wish i could hug your neck.
you are loved.
i agree with tracee. lately, your writing feels like a long exhale.
“i want to let Him love me to shalom.” – this line says everything.
@gritandglory says:
that is my favorite line as well (am i allowed to say that?!) — i just keep letting it roll over and over again in my heart.
Beautiful!
shalom – wholeness/completeness, not just “peace”
over time you’ve healed so much in me
that i am living proof
that although my darkest hour has come
your light can still shine thru
and though at times it’s just enough to cast
a shadow on the wall
i am grateful that you shine
your light on me at all
who am i
that you would love me so gently
who am i
that you would recognize my name
lord, who am i
that you would speak to me so softly
conversation with a love most high
who am i
you are his! and he is enough! i’m sure you’re “seeing” this more and more. it is only in god’s economy that it is even possible that we can be whole in our brOKeness. indeed, i think it is only in our brOKenness that we can be truly whole. please KNOW that i HATE where your brOKeness has come from, but you are beautiful in your brOKeness. his light doesn’t just shine on you. it surely shines thru you, more that you are able to conceive.
love you, friend!
@LarryHehn says:
Both inspired and inspiring, Alece. Thanks!
@gritandglory says:
thank you, larry!
A whispered “amen”
This reminded me that way God is seen in reflected in our lives is “through the cracks.” Gosh, I needed that reminder. I’m broken, cracked, but whole and held together by Him. And if I am a vessel, then the way others will see Jesus, is through the cracks. In my weaknesses, He is seen as sufficient.
@tonyjalicea says:
I can’t tell you how much I love this. Even more so coming from you.
@gritandglory says:
thanks, tony.
in my head, i am brOKen. and ok.
but that truth hasn’t penetrated the barricades around my heart. not even close. grr
i get the concept. it’s just something i have a really hard time seeing, believing, and internalizing. for my own brokenness.
@gritandglory says:
i struggle with it too. big time. this reminder was more for me than anyone else…
“I am enough because I AM is enough.”
So encouraging. Thanks for that Alece.
When I was so shattered I had to finally (8 months into crying four times a day) write a mantra for myself and put it next to my speedometer on my car: I’m okay, It’s okay.
It had to be written in that order because I too had to realize that in Christ I was whole. I had survived. And even if it’s not okay-maybe I can just write: I’m okay, It is.
@gritandglory says:
i totally get that.
i find myself getting stuck on any song that says something along the lines of “it’s gonna be alright”. i need the words to wash over my heart. even when i don’t believe them.
@bajanpoet says:
Thank you for this, Alece.
“… his banner over me is love…”
In my last post I mentioned that I heard God call me “Son” while reading the word recently…. and this post reminded me of that experience. I am still rebellious inside. Wanting to do things that I know he doesn’t approve of. Still faltering in faith and increasing in doubt – but he sees me and loves me anyway.
Thank you so much for keeping this reminder before me. Love you!
Apparently, I am a day behind, friend.
Anyway, this one I will be chewing on for quite some time…. I am brOKen and Ok! Yes, whole in HIM! :) I am absorbing this one, chewing on it, and going to live it.
@HethieBaby says:
This is beautiful!
Thank you for this wonderful post.
God bless,
Heather Joy
I’m sitting under that banner with you this morning, friend. He is crazy about you.
And so am I! :)
I love this word, Alece. There is such power in a state of brokenness. Everything you mentioned in this post touched my heart.