“Thanks-giving” Amidst Brokenness

Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Psalm 103:1

The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD is enthroned as King forever.  Psalm 29:10

He sent forth His word and healed them; He rescued them from the Pit. Psalm 107:20

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:05

The following is less a devotional and more a short essay of life’s challenges. It’s raw, real and not an “easy” read. But if you’re in need of encouragement – jump in. God’s Word promises to both heal and light our path.

All this re-remembering came about as I listened to a Charles Stanley audio book, titled The Blessings of Brokenness. A book that I first read over 20 years ago. All the sights and sounds and smells and pain of those days came crashing back into my mind. Along with the acknowledgement of a whole new set of trials that the Lord is enabling me to walk through. I pray my raw sharing of past hurts or current challenges will encourage others walking through their own pain. You are not alone, or the only one. Especially during this season when so many are talking about the importance of thankfulness or gratitude, let’s acknowledge that sometimes, “Thank You, Lord” slips easily from our lips; while in other seasons, we must brace ourselves and make a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving.

Not only are other brothers and sisters in Christ enduring trials right along with you – but they, like me, have found peace and hope in the midst of our brokenness, because of our trust in the only true God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Whatever the outcome, He is good and He is faithful. And if we surrender to His Lordship in this, He will use it all for our good and His glory.

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Over the last few years, I’ve had to front face, to come to terms with, one of my mid-forties adult children battling an addiction for the past 5 years and living outside by choice.  I’ve had to come to terms with another of my mid-forties children who was born mentally and physically challenged, who doesn’t speak to me. I’ve had to come to terms with a grown child who has not only walked away from the Lord, but has completely rejected all that I poured into them as a mom. I’ve had to come to terms with both the blessings, and the very real challenges, that are unique to blended families. There are other trials that I have left unsaid, but I think you get the idea. We all have a list, don’t we?

As these pain points have been faced and met, I’ve done so only through the stabilizing bedrock of knowing that the Lord is Sovereign over all that has touched my life. Over all that continues to pain my heart. It is with the knowledge of his character, His faithfulness and His great love for His children, that I am filled with peace and hope and strength. In the midst of life’s inevitable challenges. Not by ignoring the raw reality. Not by pretending that I feel something I don’t. But by resting in Who He is and that He sits as King over the flood of all I face. Of all that, all His children face.

And wonder of wonders, He has used, and continues to use, all of these pain points to mold me, to shape me and conform me (an ongoing, life-long process!) into the image of Jesus Christ, my Lord. Also, He has allowed me the privilege of using all of these challenges to encourage others in their time of pain and trial. To remind them that no matter what has brought them to this point in life – He is there with us. Ready and able to faithfully walk us through them.

I suppose I could “blame” the challenges from my childhood (We ALL have something don’t we? Some worse than others to be sure). I could point to unjust events in my life or even my own (very many) bad choices. There is enough of each to go around. I could also speak of the enemy of our souls, the devil himself (or his minions) for arranging several of these events in my life. But in the end, I must acknowledge that nothing can come into the life of a child of God without His permission. Though He may not cause, He most certainly must allow. He is God.

With that Biblical truth as the backdrop, I turn my eyes upward and ask my Father, “What are You trying to teach me?” And then, “Please search me, O God and try my heart and remove from me anything not pleasing to You.”

I don’t ask these questions out of a stoic religious duty or even easily. I ask because I know that He is trustworthy, He is sovereign and He loves me. I look no further than the Cross for assurance of those facts. And I trust His promise to bring good out of all I face.

It is very real brokenness that brought me to this point of surrender. Perhaps this is just one of His reasons for allowing it.

Within the raw reality of all this, I have been so graciously blessed to have a man of God for a husband these past 15 wonderful years (and counting!), together, we have 7 grown children, 9 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. We have the privilege of serving the Lord and sharing life together. Several of our children are faithfully serving the Lord and walking out His will in their day-to-day lives. I have had, and continue to have, the opportunity to encourage others in their walk to trust the Lord no matter their circumstance – He’s allowed me the privilege of doing this through a writing ministry, through serving the ladies at ORW, through serving “the least of these” at Columbus Dream Center and through serving folks at The Bridge Ministry at Shiloh.

Brokenness isn’t something to be avoided at all costs…If we want to be all that God desires us to be, we must submit to Him in times of brokenness. – Charles Stanley

Let’s pray,

My Father and my God, these seasons of brokenness are painful, but also bear much fruit when placed in Your hands. I submit myself and all that I face to You, the only true God and Sovereign. I choose to trust You with the trial and give thanks in all things. I love You! In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Written by Becky White for the Lord Jesus

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