Does brokenness in your past leave you feeling overwhelmed and discouraged? The calendar flips. Others are creating (and already owning!) their resolutions for the year, but how are you supposed to face the new year if you’re feeling overwhelmed?
I had a moment recently where I was pouring my heart out to God because I felt shattered. I ached. I hurt. Tears flowed as I cried out to God: “I feel broken. You put me back together, and I get broken again. Every time, it feels like the shards of my life get smaller and smaller and it gets harder to put me back together.” Finally, I got to the point where I felt so broken I shouted, “I am dust!” There’s no repairing. Hope just felt too far away.
Have you been here before? Have you had a moment of great discouragement? A moment when our enemy deceitfully sneaks in and tells you: You are irreparable. You’re broken. Things are not getting better. You’re a failure. You’re a terrible parent. Your marriage is never going to work. You will never be successful. You are not a good provider. You are unloved, unliked, unwanted. There is no hope.
There is always hope!
In that moment when was feeling overwhelmed I felt so broken, so hurt, so unfixable, a gentle whisper spoke to my heart: Do you know what I do with dust? I create.
That was it.
It hit me like fireworks in my heart! What could God do with dust? He creates! Maybe the dust-sized shards of my life weren’t hopeless after all.
I was immediately reminded that, He created us in His image from the dust.
So God created man in His own image, in the image and likeness of God He created him; male and female He created them. Genesis 1:27 AMP
We’re His image—as in a reflection. We are a reflection of God. We look like our heavenly Father.
And how does the Bible describe God? Well, in just a few words: compassionate, gracious, merciful, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, forgiving, a provider, a fortress, a rock, a life-giver, and more!
In my brokenness, being reduced to dust, I was reminded what I am made of—and I learned the beauty that God intends for the dust of our lives.
Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven. 1 Corinthians 15:49 ESV
Wait! Did you catch that? That’s talking about Adam and Jesus! Our Creator, God, takes us from dust to His image! I might be made of dust, but through the grace of God, I look more like Jesus every day.
So, let me whisper some life into your ear.
When you’re feeling overwhelmed, you are repairable. You may be broken, but your situation will get better. You can be successful. You can be a fantastic parent. Your marriage is able to heal and thrive. You can be a great provider. You are loved, liked, and wanted. You don’t have to face the new year feeling overwhelmed with life. Instead, you can face the new year with the hope of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit to give you strength even in your weariness. There is always hope!
