For most of my forty-five years, I’ve felt broken, damaged, not whole. I’ve felt not enough and yet sometimes way too much — too much mess, too much trouble. Too much, well, me.
I am often my own worst critic, condemning this fragile heart with thoughts that ask, What will people think if they know you struggle with this? or You should be over this by now. What is wrong with you? As a survivor of childhood physical and verbal abuse, the enemy has given me plenty of reasons to feel this way. When you hear the lies long enough, you start to believe them, and memories don’t seem to fade as easily as bruises do.
Being married to a pastor for twenty-two amazing – yet not always easy – years, I know well the effort it takes to appear “put together.” Some days I want to pull the blankets over my head and hide from everyone and everything. And some days I wonder if I’m damaged beyond repair.
I can feel the ridges of the scars on my heart, the fissures that go deep and cause insecurities I wish could be swallowed whole. My flaws are impossible to hide. Countless times I have given God the hurts I bear, and I have felt His love over and over again. Yet before long, it feels like my brokenness resurfaces. And let’s be real for a moment: broken places cannot always be masked with makeup and plastic smiles. Sometimes they crack wide open when you least expect and give way in a torrential rush.
Maybe you’ve felt that way, too. Maybe you’ve felt as though you’ll never be whole, that you’ll never measure up no matter how big His grace is.
The truth is, each of us have wounds. We all carry scars, but we are not the sum of what we’ve done or what has been done to us. While experience shapes us, it does not have the power to define us. We may feel broken, but that is not the end of the story! There is nothing too hard or too big for Him to heal and piece back together with His peace.
According to John 12:24, nothing can take root, grow, or reach its fullest potential without dying first. There must be brokenness, a crack, for a seed to let the light and rain in, both of which are desperately needed for growth. Someday, after a falling away of the hull and the spreading of tiny roots, brokenness gives way to more than it could ever have been on its own.
John’s powerful wisdom teaches us that broken places are not something to get over; they are sacred spaces His faithful love gets us through. One breath, one heartbeat, one moment at a time. When offered to God, brokenness becomes a portrait of strength made perfect in weakness. Flaws become a banner of hope! Scars reveal that we were worth every bit of suffering our Savior went through to redeem us, and His grace measures up when we don’t.
So for those of us who feel hopelessly broken today, let’s remember: Beginning again starts with one step. It takes courage to get back up and offer yesterday’s script a new line. But rewrites are God’s specialty! He is more than able to take the broken pieces and make a masterpiece. Let’s allow our brokenness to be laid before Him and discover grace that brings greater growth than we dared dream possible – grace that always measures up.
Father, we so desperately need You to heal our broken places. We invite You into the hardest, darkest stories of our lives and trust You to make us new. We know we don’t need to hide the unlovely places in our hearts from You. Your goodness is like a balm to our souls. May every painful place stand as a testimony of Your greatness as we surrender to Your plan.
There is nothing too hard or too big for God to heal and piece back together with His peace. - Jenny Wheeler: Click To Tweet Leave a Comment
Good Morning Jenny! Both of the incourage posts apply deeply to my heart this morning. There is a painful necessary healing that I am in the midst of and have been for about a year now. I know that when I come out the other side, that not only will I be stronger in Him, but the very foundation of who I am will be even more firmly attached to the Rock of Jesus Christ. The Lord speaks to me daily through all the amazing women who write for incourage. I so dearly appreciate the raw beauty with which each devotional is written. How real, tangible, and obvious the loving Hand of the Maker is upon each of you precious sister’s in Christ. Thank you for daily pouring out onto us.
Michelle,
So sorry you’re walking through a mess, but what a gift to know it’s not going to stay that way when we have Jesus. We just keep leaning into grace and laying it at His feet. I’ve seen Him work miracles. He won’t stop!
Blessings to you!
Jenny Wheeler
Beautiful!!!
So humbled and blessed to share my heart today. It’s not easy to admit those deep struggles we have as women of God, but we are more alike than we often think.
Leaning into grace is a gift. Letting Him heal those broken places is, too. And He will, ladies. He will!
Jenny Wheeler
“His grace measures up when we don’t.” These words sure speak to me today. Yesterday, I saw deep into one of those ridges on my own heart and it brought up a well of tears. Insecurity— that as you say, I wish I could push down because it’s painful when it resurfaces. But God’s love broke through and met me there. And He replaces weakness with his strength. Such a metamorphosis. Thank you for your powerful words! Confirmation today, of his healing work in my life. A new day to rise. ❤️
Valerie,
Yes, He never stops remaking our hearts! Keep leaning into His grace! Much love and prayers!
Jenny
So humbled and blessed to share my heart today. It’s not easy to admit those deep struggles we have as women of God, but we are more alike than we often think.
Leaning into grace is a gift. Letting Him heal those broken places is, too. And He will, ladies. He will!
Jenny Wheeler
Thank you, Jenny! I’m in the ‘messy middle’ of finally acknowledging and dealing with a messy childhood. Wish I’d done it years ago so I could be through this part already! But truly thankful to finally uncover where some struggles come from and asking the Lord for deep, thorough healing. And I’m shakily Trusting Him that it’s worth it and that I’m worth it. Appreciate your truth and encouragement today.
Andrea,
It’s a journey for sure! Praise God you’re on your way to healing. God is faithful. Much love and prayers!
Such a beautiful post! I often want to push those broken places down instead of letting his grace in. If we didn’t have those broken places why would we need Jesus? I loved the anology of the root and how it has to “die” first. I think we are all on the same journey. I often pray for Darlene to be hidden behind the cross of Jesus Christ. I must go lower that He may go higher! He uses those broken places to transform us into HIS likeness! Thank you for sharing your heart and this lovely post! I think we are all in the same boat together . If we just rest in who He created us to be and be real to share our struggles He will use us for His glory! Amen!
Darlene,
Yes, I’d much rather hide the truth sometimes. But revealing brings healing.
Praying for you as you keep trusting Him in those hard places.
This touched me deeply. I, too, am broken and for years covered it up. The healing didn’t start until I found it in my heart to forgive the abusers and with God’s love and grace, I am healing. My brokenness still comes out at times but I am not ashamed of it anymore and share with others what happened to me. God has given me the strength to do this and without Him and His grace, who knows where I’d be today.
Yes! No shame! Just keep letting Him do the work, Heiki. So glad His love covers it all! ❤️
Jenny,
Thank you for an honest post! Christians, especially women, tend to “stuff” our feelings deep down so we appear to have it all together. That is not good for our health- physically or mentally. Often we don’t want to admit or appear broken. We want the world to see us with our fake happy masks on. Not everyone gets a “Norman Rockwell” childhood. Truth is life can be hard. Situations get thrown at us. Praise God He is there to help put the pieces back together. God loves us to much to let us stay down, depressed & believing lies of the enemy. He wants us to be overcomers. He can & will help us heal those scars. No only that but He will send His peace, grace & contentment to help us overcome our past. Like many here I have heard & believed those lies. God is there always for me & for you also. He wants you to come to Him desperately seeking His love. He is wooing you back to Himself & His safe arms.
Blessings 🙂
Thank you so much. So blessed to know our stories resonate … and I think our brokenness is nothing to hide. It reveals His power to heal!
Blessings to you!
Wonderful, powerful post. How often do we look at ourselves and feel that we could never measure up to what we’re supposed to be…that we’re too broken. I do it way too often. Thank-you Jenny for this reminder that His grace is enough. It measures up, so we don’t have to. Bless you xx
Amen! So glad it spoke to your heart!
Wow, that was sooo powerful! You should be a motivational speaker. Thank You, Lord, that Your grace always measures up, and that means we don’t have to.
🙂 Thank you, Emily. I speak when I can and am praying for God to open more doors, if that’s His will for this season.
So glad the words spoke to your heart and encouraged you. He has good plans for us. Let’s keep leaning into grace! Blessings!