Embracing Brokenness: A Pathway to Wholeness

Have you ever wondered why we have such a deep desire to create? Whether it’s crafting a dessert, painting, or building something from wood, that need to create is likely tied to our being made in the image of a Creator God. From the very beginning of the Bible, we see God fashioning humanity with care. Genesis 1:26-27 shows God saying, "Let us make mankind in our image," and Genesis 2:7 gets more specific, saying, “The Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.” This act of creation not only defines our origin but also points to our ongoing need to be shaped by God’s hands.

Throughout Scripture, God is likened to a potter who shapes and molds His people. Isaiah 64:8 declares, "We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand." This image of God as the potter teaches us a profound truth: God desires to shape our lives, but it requires our surrender to Him.

As much as we may enjoy watching artists create beautiful works from raw materials, there’s often a mystery to the process. A potter starts with a lump of clay, spinning it on a wheel, slowly shaping it into something meaningful. It might not look like much in the beginning, but the artist knows the plan from the start. Similarly, we may not always understand what God is doing in our lives. Proverbs 16:9 says, “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.” We often want to be in control, calling the shots in our own lives, but true transformation begins when we allow God to take the lead.

This brings us to the subject of brokenness. Many of us struggle with the idea of brokenness because it implies imperfection. But in God’s hands, brokenness is the beginning of transformation. Jesus made it clear in the Sermon on the Mount that those who are broken and humble before God are blessed. In Matthew 5, He says, "Blessed are the poor in spirit... those who mourn... the meek." These people are blessed because they recognize their need for God. They haven’t deceived themselves into thinking they have it all together.

In contrast, those who think they can live self-sufficient lives, relying on their own strength, are often blinded by pride. When Jesus encountered the proud and self-righteous, He confronted them repeatedly. But for those who recognized their brokenness, He extended grace.

In Revelation 4 and 5, we see a heavenly scene where all of creation bows in worship, acknowledging God as holy and supreme. This kind of humility is what God seeks in us. And yet, everything in our nature wants to resist. Who enjoys admitting mistakes or revealing cracks in their foundation? We want to be the heroes of our own stories. But the truth is, we were meant to find our wholeness and purpose in God alone.

Jeremiah 18 provides a powerful image of this truth. In this passage, God instructs the prophet to visit a potter’s house, where he observes clay being shaped on a wheel. Sometimes, to mold the clay into what he desires, the potter has to break it down first. Similarly, God may allow brokenness in our lives so He can reshape us into what He intended from the start. Our imperfections, rather than disqualifying us, are often the very things God uses to mold us into His purpose—if we’re willing to surrender.

The world is full of distractions—“shiny gods” that compete for our attention and devotion. These idols promise fulfillment but ultimately leave us empty. True contentment comes when we allow God to shape us according to His design, trusting Him to work through our brokenness. As Ephesians 2:10 reminds us, "We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

Brokenness is not the end; it’s the beginning of becoming who we were created to be. In God’s hands, our cracks and imperfections become the means through which He forms something beautiful. All He asks is that we surrender the wheel and trust the process.