Broken and Remade


  • Have you ever diagnosed a problem, (either for yourself, or someone else, or about yourself or someone else), only to later realize you really didn't know "the whole story"? 
  • Have you ever cut off a relationship because you thought you knew all about "the problem" in the life of someone, but later realized the problem was not just them, but you as well?
The fact is relationships are MESSY because relationships involve broken people. And the truth is we're all broken in multiple places, hidden in the depths of our hearts. And these places are not easily uncovered. We engage each other in relationships with all kinds of motivations. And if those motivations aren't right we set ourselves up for failure and compromise what "could be" for what we think "is", when all the while what really is, is not at all what we have imagined! 

For relationships to work as God intended, we must have a starting place on two levels of truth. One about ourselves and one about others...

#1) On this first level, we must develop a deep, inspired and honest introspection which seeks and deals with our own personal brokenness and humble admission that we are prone to failure. 

 King David said it this way: 

 "Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Psalm 139: 23-24

#2) On the second level, we must come to the place of humble grace which sees the other person FIRST as a highly-valued son or daughter of our Creator God, worthy of redemption by Him and therefore worthy of His compassionate love through us. 

 God's Word is clear on this: 

 We should, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus... Philippians 2: 3-5

Many times we can't get to #2 because we haven't honestly worked through #1!

 Pride is the silent killer of relationships. Pride in thinking "I'm always right" and pride in believing "I have this figured out". Both of these self imposed places of untruth in a relationship will lead to isolation which disallows God's divine opportunity to remake us and others. When this happens our relationships are either stunted or destroyed. 

 But Humility is the kryptonite for Pride. Though it can be falsely packaged in a less than honest heart, it is an absolute necessity for all that is good which God wants to do in our relationships with each other. 

 Do you want to go there? Do you DARE to go there? THEN go there and find healing from Him! 

"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

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