When life is hard, there are several possible effects.

I could become bitter. No, I have enough pain without hurting myself intentionally. Bitterness will never fix anything!!

I could fight to hold myself together. Not let anyone see. Prove that Christ’s strength in me is great enough to prevent anything from getting me down.

But Jesus wasn’t perfectly composed when facing difficulties. He dreaded the cross with an intensity unknown to us. He doesn’t ask me to be perfectly strong all the time, either.

He only asks me to maintain a strong hold on my faith in Him always, even when I am weak.

So… I could become weak. I could rest in the wave of each emotion, nonresistant. Wait. Allow myself to fully experience this? Not fight it at all, but actually embrace the pain as part of life?

Yes.

But also, give it all to Jesus.

This reaction feels risky. Being weak, giving up the fight, allows my will to be broken.

And that… is where all the beauty begins.

Beauty comes forth from brokenness.

If I give my heart to God, I allow it to be filled with Jesus.

If I humble myself to be weak in His Presence, and give Him every hard emotion I’m hit with, I allow Him to break me.

And then… what a delight!

He will pour Himself into the lives of all I meet, through my cracks.

If I am filled with Jesus and allow myself to be broken, Jesus will spill out of me.

The thought of Jesus’s love flowing freely through me… is humbling. I am unworthy.

But He promises to redeem pain, to use all things for good to His glory.

He always keeps His promises, so I know He will flow through me.

I’m unworthy… it is humbling that He chooses me as His servant… but the image of Jesus flowing through the cracks in my heart is beautiful.

Use me, Lord. Heal me by making me a vessel of Your love to others…

Break me, Lord.

And fill me with Yourself.

So that my brokenness becomes beautiful…

For Your glory.

Amen!