My grandmother gave me a ceramic duck before she passed away. I cherished it for many years until one day, it was knocked off my chest of drawers and broken into several pieces. My heart sank as it fell to the floor. Having it restored was impossible. The damage was beyond repair.

The Fall

I picked up the pieces, placed them in a plastic bag, and kept them for years. Now, the bag full of ceramic duck parts is nowhere to be found.

Sometimes broken things can’t be fixed, but sometimes they can.

Many have heard about the Japanese art of repairing damaged ceramics called Kintsugi. The broken places are filled with lacquer (mixed with a powder form of metal) like gold, platinum, or silver. The dish is restored and becomes an exquisite piece of art—a beautiful reminder of a restored broken place.

The Restoration

We may have a deep wound in our flesh when we get hurt physically. Most likely, we will have a scar to remind us of the damage inflicted upon our body, but the scar also reminds us of our healing. It’s the same spiritually with our hearts.

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

~Psalm 34:18 NIV

God is close to us when we’re broken. He’s the one who is close when it seems everyone else has abandoned us. He binds our broken places. The Holy Spirit within us seals them masterfully from the inside. When we’re crushed, He holds us in His powerful hands. We may even have a scar to remember the healing.

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

~1 Peter 5:10 NIV

God lavishes grace upon us when we need it most. True healing for heart wounds comes through the powerful work of the Holy Spirit. He will make us strong, firm, and steadfast in Him.  

Think about a time when God repaired a broken place in your life.

Father, thank You for restoring my broken places. In Jesus’ name, amen.

 

Genre: Non-fiction

Copyright 2024: Restored: Melinda Cooper: All Rights Reserved