From Brokenness To Wholeness

Five Tips For Navigating ToughTimes 

 It was a day of disaster. My grandson fell twenty-three feet through a hole in the roof at work. As Craigen fell he had enough time to think “This is it!” As he lay broken on the cement his co-worker was in shock and he had to tell him to call an ambulance. They did not expect him to survive. When I saw him he said “It’s a miracle I wasn’t hurt.” Of course he was hurt, laying in ICU with multiple fractures and blood clots in his lungs. But there was no head or spinal injury that would paralyze him. With much work and determination he could get through this. Craigen has always been strong willed and determined and that will pay off now, for his wife, his kids and his recovery. 

Pop Quiz Of The Ages

Why did God allow this to happen? There was another similar accident in our area the very same week and a young man died. My son died in a car wreck. Why does  such suffering happen? There is no quick, easy answer to this pop quiz of the ages. However, I do know this, there was a Garden in Eden where the tree of life bloomed in paradise, where man communed with God and God made everything safe, sound and secure. Then man chose to turn his back on God and lost the safety, security and provision of God’s Garden. Adam’s choice brought death and a curse that we still reap the consequences of today. But, there is good news! The Garden and the tree of life are being restored and will one day be fully restored (See Rev 22), but not yet. 

Here are a few tips that will help you navigate the challenge of tough times, your day of disaster, toward a lush garden where healing is released.

1 – Return To Walking

The good news is that Jesus brought communion with God back to reality. He is with you through every difficult or challenging situation. In death and disaster you are never alone. Determine that you will find your garden and return to walking with God in the cool of the day like Adam did (See Genesis 3:8). Take a brisk walk to the corner, and return to walking with God. This is where healing happens.

2 – Turn The Tide

  When you pray, God is with you and turns the tide of the battle (See Psalm 56:9). The brokenness you are in, whether physical, emotional or spiritual can be turned to wholeness and restoration. Go back to the garden of prayer and see what God will say.

3 – Saturate In God’s Promises

He has promised to never leave you or forsake you (see Hebrews 13:5). No matter how your world is turned upside down, the Lord will be with you and sustain you.  Don’t get consumed by the tragedy or it will consume you. Saturate yourself in God’s powerful promises, by placing His Word in your mind and your emotions will be consumed with life, peace and hope. How do you saturate yourself with love and life? Memorize and meditate on scripture, pray to your Creator, intentionally fill your thoughts with positive, kind, lovely thoughts (See Proverbs 4:21) and you can actually change the wiring in your brain away from darkness, death or destructive thoughts and behavior toward life, light and love.

4 – Keep A Positive Vision Of The Future

When Craigen was young, he was such a darling, a talker that did not know a stranger. When he was almost three, we took him to church and I asked him what he learned. He said it was about baby Jesus and the wise men. I said what did you learn about them? He said “They came to warsh him up!” (He heard warsh him up out of worship.)  I pray these words over him, “ Warsh him in your blood Jesus so he can be restored, healed and minister to others in his brokenness, that all who encounter him would encounter you and worship you too, no matter what their brokenness is.”

5 – Push Past The Mountain Of Misery

God is a good God, but that doesn’t mean everything in this fallen world is good. In this fallen world there is death, disease, and evil behavior that has hard consequences. And yes it’s not fair, but who said life in this fallen world is fair? Make the decision to be determined to push past the mountain of misery. There will be a day when the Garden will be restored, the Tree Of Life will be restored and there will be no tears or tragedy. In the meantime, God in his wisdom and perspective which is way beyond ours, works to help us. You have to trust him, for there is no other way. Push past the pain, don’t dwell in the dark places of discouragement. Be a part of the journey from brokenness to wholeness, for that day is coming where you will see your loved ones again, and the Lover Of Your Soul, in an eternity of paradise.

Love, Debbie