"Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written." John 21:25 (NIV)

Two women approached me. They could almost pass for twins, except for the scars borne by one.

"She rescued me," the younger one said. "She drove through the night, even after I told her to stay away."

Her older sister had braved the darkness to save her from a man who fractured not just her bones, but her spirit. Though she had been safe for months, years of hurt, doubt and pain were deeply ingrained.

"Can I pray for you?" I asked.

She knelt eagerly, pressing her forehead into my knees. She wrapped her arms around my legs before I could kneel beside her. Loss, pain and a chasm so wide she feared there was no way back, soaked through her tears.

It’s moments like these I realize how human I am, and how little I truly have to offer.

But God!

As we prayed, I asked for what felt impossible in the natural. I cannot explain the presence I felt in that small space. It was tangible, an almost overwhelming compassion of a Savior for his beautiful daughter.

A new chapter was being written. Not just in her life, but in the countless pages of the broken made whole by Jesus.

For some, brokenness is easy to see, like this beautiful younger sister whose scars were obvious. But for most of us, our hearts bear the marks.

The damage can be the result of unhealthy doctrine — like when you love Jesus, but people tell you that you can never be good enough. It can be a mark left by great loss. It might be what takes place when your life is turned upside down by unfulfilled promises or events you didn’t see coming.

Every story is unique and each story — including yours — is important to God. And this is our promise: Brokenness does not have to be the final chapter.

He rewrites.

Begin to imagine what you will look like in the hands of your Savior. This opens the door to hope. It places the pen in God’s hand, instead of the past, a person or a feeling.

It changes your question from, "What’s wrong with me?" to "What miracle does God want to perform in me?"

We receive.

He came for you. That’s the good news found in Luke 4:18-19: "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord"s favor" (NIV).

Jesus is not afraid of our brokenness. It was on His heart the day He transitioned from deity to walk the earth on our behalf. Hold out your hands. Throw open the doors that so carefully guard your pain.

We all rejoice.

Healing won’t take place overnight. Instead it’s an exquisite process where God peels away layer by layer. But as you heal, something profound begins to take place.

You become an integral part of the good news described in John 21:25, our key verse. Your story spills into the pages eternally describing the power of Jesus to mend a broken heart.

And for that, we all rejoice.

Dear Jesus, thank You that newness is pouring into my life. I open my heart, my thoughts, my past and my broken places to Your touch. Thank You that You are writing a new chapter in my story beginning today. I praise You because the power of the cross is not in what I’ve done, but in what’s already been done for me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

***

TRUTH FOR TODAY:

Isaiah 53:5, "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed." (NIV)

Matthew 4:23, "Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people." (NIV)

RELATED RESOURCES:

Would you like to bring Suzie Eller to your church? Click here to find out more about considering Suzie as your next retreat / keynote speaker.

Visit Suzie Eller’s blog for a giveaway of The Mended Heart: God’s Healing for Your Broken Places and to learn more about The Unburdened Heart: Finding the Freedom of Forgiveness.

REFLECT AND RESPOND:

Today, ask God to heal the first layer. Don’t worry about the end goal. Ask God to step gently into your broken places and begin His work in you right where you are.

© 2015 by Suzie Eller. All rights reserved.