Not So Sweetly Broken
There is a worship song that was popular in 2007 called "Sweetly Broken" by Jeremy Riddle. Worshipers fell to the ground as they sang ".....at the cross You beckon me, draw me gently to my knees...." It is a beautiful piece of music, I will admit that.
But I have not been so sweetly broken.
I've been harshly broken, torn asunder, thrown to the wolves, and ravaged as though I am Jericho and my walls are imploding with noise and smoke and debris as they fall to the ground. And all that is left is the empty inner soul of a woman.
There is nothing in the Bible that promises it is going to be sweet when you break. For some, it will be. It will be that gentle, loving nudge, or a gentle calling that says "Take up your cross and follow me."
Moses. Not so sweetly broken.
David. Not so sweetly broken.
Job. Not so sweetly broken.
Jesus. Not so sweetly broken.
I believe Easter is the most important holiday that Christians can celebrate. It is our why. Easter finery, lilies, pretty pastels, and big family dinners commemorate this gathering of resurrection celebration. But its the WHY that matters.
We are ugly and dark and we need a savior. WE NEED A SAVIOR FROM OUR SORRY SELVES. And it had to get dark and ugly so that we could have one.
I've had a lot on my plate lately. Its been HARD. Not so sweetly broken, but broken indeed. I'm not feeling sorry for myself. I'm not suicidal. But my reality is pain. Physical pain. Mental and emotional pain. Spiritual pain.
I know all of the froofy (how does one spell froofy? froofee?) scriptures that people want to send me right now. All of your encouraging words.
Just.....stop. Indulge me a minute.
People hurt and go through REALLY HARD THINGS. Telling them what they should do or how they could handle things is helpful in their knowing they are not alone. But it doesn't change the fact that they are still going through REALLY HARD THINGS.
Sometimes you don't know all of the secrets (thus, the need for a Savior who does). You don't know what's breaking them. Sometimes you don't know they are breaking at all.
But the reality is, some of us are being not-so-sweetly-broken. Just....broken.
Perhaps those courageous, strong exteriors need to crumble and crash to the ground to reveal the humble and hurting and broken ones who just need love and redemption.
That's what Easter is about, after all, is it not? Redemption?
Jesus. Not so sweetly broken. Tortured. Because sin and darkness and hatred are real. They have the ability to shatter a person so deeply to the core nothing can reach them. There isn't enough love in the world to reach them.
They need something deeper. Miraculous. Resurrection-strength healing that we do not have the power to give.
Because the reality is, some of us are not so sweetly broken. We are just broken.
But I have not been so sweetly broken.
I've been harshly broken, torn asunder, thrown to the wolves, and ravaged as though I am Jericho and my walls are imploding with noise and smoke and debris as they fall to the ground. And all that is left is the empty inner soul of a woman.
There is nothing in the Bible that promises it is going to be sweet when you break. For some, it will be. It will be that gentle, loving nudge, or a gentle calling that says "Take up your cross and follow me."
Moses. Not so sweetly broken.
David. Not so sweetly broken.
Job. Not so sweetly broken.
Jesus. Not so sweetly broken.
I believe Easter is the most important holiday that Christians can celebrate. It is our why. Easter finery, lilies, pretty pastels, and big family dinners commemorate this gathering of resurrection celebration. But its the WHY that matters.
We are ugly and dark and we need a savior. WE NEED A SAVIOR FROM OUR SORRY SELVES. And it had to get dark and ugly so that we could have one.
I've had a lot on my plate lately. Its been HARD. Not so sweetly broken, but broken indeed. I'm not feeling sorry for myself. I'm not suicidal. But my reality is pain. Physical pain. Mental and emotional pain. Spiritual pain.
I know all of the froofy (how does one spell froofy? froofee?) scriptures that people want to send me right now. All of your encouraging words.
Just.....stop. Indulge me a minute.
People hurt and go through REALLY HARD THINGS. Telling them what they should do or how they could handle things is helpful in their knowing they are not alone. But it doesn't change the fact that they are still going through REALLY HARD THINGS.
Sometimes you don't know all of the secrets (thus, the need for a Savior who does). You don't know what's breaking them. Sometimes you don't know they are breaking at all.
But the reality is, some of us are being not-so-sweetly-broken. Just....broken.
Perhaps those courageous, strong exteriors need to crumble and crash to the ground to reveal the humble and hurting and broken ones who just need love and redemption.
That's what Easter is about, after all, is it not? Redemption?
Jesus. Not so sweetly broken. Tortured. Because sin and darkness and hatred are real. They have the ability to shatter a person so deeply to the core nothing can reach them. There isn't enough love in the world to reach them.
They need something deeper. Miraculous. Resurrection-strength healing that we do not have the power to give.
Because the reality is, some of us are not so sweetly broken. We are just broken.
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