Finding Beauty in Brokenness [With Bible Verses]

How can there be beauty in brokenness? Broken things are usually tossed away; discarded because they are useless. Broken people can feel useless and tossed away, too. Maybe you feel the things you’ve done in your own life have broken you beyond repair. Can we find beauty there? Read on…

Types of Brokenness

What does brokenness mean? The state of brokenness can take many forms. Unemployment-illness-addiction-divorce/relationships and death. These seasons of struggle can lead to feelings of exhaustion, loneliness, anger, and fear.

None of us get through life without trials and painful life circumstances. Sometimes they appear out of nowhere, but they can also be a painful end to a particular trial.

Is there beauty in that brokenness? Yes, there is. But where/how can we find it?

There is One who seeks out and loves the broken and rejected. He’s on the lookout for those with a broken spirit who need healing, comfort, and restoration. 

He is a healer and an artist who picks them up, sees their brokenness and transforms them into beautiful masterpieces.

It’s Jesus.

Why? Because Jesus experienced brokenness in so many ways. He lived His entire life in service to others at the expense of His own comfort. 

Jesus left His majestic home in heaven to put on humanity and live among sin. Those He came to save despised and rejected Him.

He faced ridicule and misunderstanding from his own family and tribe of people.

Jesus experienced the utmost in brokenness in His death on a cross- not for anything He deserved, but to assure that we can live with Him forever. He is the ultimate example of brokenness.

He’s felt every feeling you are feeling and more. He knows what it’s like to feel alone and rejected. And he wants to make sure you never feel alone, no matter what life throws at you.

Bible Verses about Being Broken

Psalm 34:18

“The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” 

When we are feeling broken, there is beauty in His closeness to us. He’s not just nearby, but close. Jesus is right next to us whenever we are hurting. He’s there to offer help, love, courage, and strength.

Psalm 147:3

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” 

His peace, love and tender care are like bandages and salve applied to our hurts.

Isaiah 43:2

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” 

God’s grace and love sets us apart and proclaims we are precious in His sight. The world and its broken ways may try to break you, but He will be there with you, protecting and guiding. 

When life’s difficulties come sweeping into your life, don’t go your own way. Trust in God’s plan, strength, and protection!

I love the words that come just before this verse: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine.” He wants to knit the broken pieces of your life back together.

John 16:33

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” 

We should expect to experience brokenness and struggle. Jesus foretold it. But He also reminds us that because He was victorious over all sin, we can claim His peace as our own. Especially in the brokenness.

2 Corinthians 1:3

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort.”

God comes to us in our brokenness, bringing comfort and help to deal with our troubles.

Matthew 11:28

“Then Jesus said, Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” 

He calls out to us, especially when we are feeling broken. He wants us to experience true rest in His loving arms.

Brokenness in the Bible

We don’t have to look too hard to find brokenness in the Bible.

Adam and Eve

They literally “had it all” didn’t they? Beautiful sin-free home, no hard physical work, year-round pleasant weather, and they didn’t even have to worry about what to wear!

To top off their idyllic life, God Himself came around each day to walk and talk with them.

Their brokenness came swiftly when their sin caused a broken relationship with God. Hunger, struggle, and exhausting work suddenly filled their life. 

Naomi and Ruth

Naomi was an Israelite forced by famine to live in a foreign land. She lost her husband and two sons, which left her broken-hearted. 

Being a widow usually meant extreme poverty and hardship. When she decided to return to her people, she encouraged her daughter-in-laws to return to theirs, even though it meant traveling alone.

Ruth was one of her daughter-in-laws broken by widowhood herself. But she refuses to leave Naomi. 

Ruth wanted to stay with Naomi and worship God. The beauty in her story started there.

The list goes on and on…

Hannah was broken down by her infertility.  

Moses was a murderer and an exile. 

Joseph’s brothers abused him and sold him into slavery.  

Mary Magdalene suffered horribly with demon possession. 

Peter denied Jesus three times and ran away in shame and fear.

If you went back and read every story of brokenness in the Bible, you’d see God using these broken, hurting people to bring His hope into the world. 

He holds them close and heals their hurts. He comforts them and rebuilds their lives.

Joseph told his brothers, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” Genesis 50:20.

He can take our brokenness and bring forth beautiful results.♥

How does God use our brokenness? 

●He uses our hurt to help us lean on His strength. We can experience God’s love in ways we never have before.●

●It can lead us to reach out to Him, the Great Physician, to heal our pain.

●It can point us to His incredible love for us and how desperately we need His life-giving power through the Holy Spirit.

●Jesus never sees us as a broken vessel beyond repair. The author of creation can smooth out our jagged edges and create a new kind of masterpiece of breathtaking beauty!

God reminded Jeremiah; “You are like clay in the potter’s hands.” Like a clay jar that needs repair; God’s power can remake us into a new kind of masterpiece.

●He can use it as a testament to our faith in His power and love. Our restored life gives others hope and comfort as they go through their time of brokenness.

●He wants to restore and bless broken people and then use us to show Him to our broken world.

Related Post∼ Every Scar Tells a Story

The Art of Kintsugi

The Japanese tradition of kintsugi (meaning “golden joinery”) repairs broken pottery by filling the cracks with precious gold powder. Not only is it once again functional, but a valuable and beautiful thing!

Isn’t this a beautiful metaphor of how Jesus restores and redeems our broken lives with His precious sacrifice? We are all broken by sin until we recognize Christ’s power to save us and “rework” us into a great treasure!

It is also a precious reminder to trust Him to repair and restore us in the brokenness of everyday life.

Finding beauty in brokenness comes from a complete trust in who God is and how He works in our lives.

We also find beauty in brokenness when we choose to sit with Him and pour out all our pain and struggles, knowing He is listening to each word.

My Body, Broken for You

We would never choose brokenness, but Jesus did. He chose brokenness to redeem you and me. His words at the Last Supper explain it this way: “This is my body, broken for you.”

And because of Jesus, we can leave it to Him to restore us to wholeness. It might not be a sudden transformation. Healing may come day by day. 

And as Oswald Chambers wisely stated,
“Leave the broken, irreversible past in God’s hands, and step out into the invincible future with Him.” 

We need to take that step in faith and trust in Him.

There can always be beauty in brokenness if we turn it over to Jesus, the victorious one!

Blessings,

AnnMarie

Blessings,

AnnMarie

Need more encouragement?  Grab a free printable of Bible Verses for the Brokenhearted by clicking on the image:

All Scripture is taken from the NIV unless specified otherwise.

Photo Credit: Pixabay