How God Uses Broken Vessels to Help Others
Being broken vessels is part of life.
Strained relationships, messy marriages, lost loved ones….we’ve all experienced some kind of hurt in our lives.
In the midst of the pain, we can find ourselves questioning God.
We wonder where He is and why we are going through the difficulty.
The weight of our circumstances can blind us to His goodness, making it difficult for us to move forward.
Almost 11 years ago I experienced a loss that left me in this very spot.
After having 3 healthy babies, I miscarried at 3 months of pregnancy.
My first reaction was disbelief. But the more I meditated on what had happened the more anxious I became.
The enemy was quick to throw accusations my way, leaving me questioning if the loss was a result of something I had done.
I was broken.
But God uses broken vessels.
What’s so interesting, is that the more I sought Him, the more I realized this brokenness was not about me.
It wasn’t about anything I had done and it wasn’t about how much He loved me.
He sent His Son to die for me. There is no greater love than that.
We live in a broken world and we are jars of clay.
Bad things can happen.
But God can use those things for our good, to help others, and for His glory.
Although the pain was hard, I have seen Him use it.
Countless times I’ve been able to encourage others who have miscarried or have felt fearful in pregnancy.
I am reminded of the fact that we can have faith and hope in the midst of brokenness.
My friend Rachel recently shared the wisdom she gained from the broken places in her life:
I don’t know about you, but I have been broken a time or two in my life. I have dealt with ongoing, debilitating illness, my body has been defiled at the hands of another, I’ve been rejected, betrayed, and neglected. I’ve been hurt, mocked, and shamed. I’ve suffered the painful loss of two of my children…Yes, I know a thing or two about brokenness. But one thing I have come to understand about being broken, is that it is not about me.
Despite the challenges and pain, she’s walked away with true nuggets of wisdom to share with others.
I don’t know about you, but I want God to use the brokenness from my life to help others grow in Him. I want them to see His light shining out of the cracks of this broken vessel.
Friend, if you are feeling broken….know that God can and will use every bit of that brokenness.
Thanks for sharing your words of wisdom and assurance here, Alisa. It’s strangely comforting to know we’re not alone in experiencing pain in this world. And so sorry about your lost, but loved, baby. <3
So sad to hear of your loss.
I’m working my way through Ann Voskamp’s The Broken Way with my Sunday School women, and we just finished the chapter about turning the brokenness we feel into a reason to reach out and “Be the Gift” to others. You’ve done that here by sharing your sadness and the way God met you there. Trusting this will be a huge gift to readers who have walked this sad path.
Thank you for sharing your personal story of loss and brokenness, Alisa. It is true that God can use our brokenness to heal parts of us that we didn’t even know needed healing. He is such a gracious and loving Father.
Thank you for featuring my article this week! I am truly honored. <3
Alisa, Thank you for sharing your story about loss. I am so sorry for your loss and love the way you turned it around to bless others. I agree God walks us through things to use it not waste it but not everyone does. You did. Amen!
this is a profound perspective – we can take on the burden of brokenness when it’s not ours to claim – thankful that God continues to do His thing in us, despite displaced feelings. bless you in all God is doing in and through you!