Brokenness...hmmmm. A broken potato chip can be eaten. Jeans and shoes are best worn when they are broken in. And bad habits… they are definitely better broken. What about a broken spirit? A broken heart? A broken relationship? Well--this kind of brokenness doesn’t seem to have the same appeal, it doesn't feel good.
Our world is full of brokenness-- Race relations-- BROKEN, Climate--BROKEN, Governmental structures--BROKEN, Relationships with Police-- BROKEN, Self-images-- BROKEN, Intimacy--BROKEN. But God sends us a little reminder... Broken crayons still color.
What does it mean to color even amid brokenness?
C-- Count your blessings. Despite what is going wrong, there are many things that are going right--Why not see how high you can count?
O-- Organize. When I am feeling broken, My thoughts are often scattered like the pieces of a puzzle broken apart, but I have found that if I organize that puzzle into similar groups/categories (edge pieces, center pieces, colors, shapes) when it is time to put things back together, having the puzzle organized helps me to put it together more effectively.
L--Learn the lesson(s). Brokenness is often the perfect opportunity to learn a new lesson. Pray and ask God to show you the lessons you are learning and write them down.
O-- Outside first. I often discuss the importance of inner work, and it is absolutely necessary. Sometimes however, when feelings of brokenness overwhelm us we must put what is outside of ourselves first. Get out of your head and help someone else. Go outside for a walk. Think outside the box.
R-- Release. Sometimes we have to release or step away from the challenges of our brokenness, we have to release it so that we can gain more clarity. When I am coloring (in my adult coloring book of course) sometimes I get too close and cannot see the beauty of what I am coloring. By/releasing the outcome and stepping away from what I am coloring, I often come back and am amazed by the beauty of what is being colored.
2 Corinthians 4:16 says, "That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day." We don't give up because God reminds us-- broken crayons still color.
Ponder... in what areas of your life are you coloring, even though the crayon is broken?
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