Quick Change Artist
Many of you know that my husband used to be a pastor. He left full-time pastoral ministry in 2007 to pursue the overarching call of his life–teaching. He began as a high school teacher and coach before going to seminary. He then served as a pastor for fourteen year, and finished his doctoral degree at the same time. So, guess what that makes me…
A quick-change artist: I was a teacher’s wife, a coach’s wife, a seminary student’s wife, a pastor’s wife, and am now a professor’s wife–all while married to the same guy! Wallah!
A Few Things Get Rattled
During all those changes, our family–like everyone else on earth–got a few dents, scratches, and chips. While in pastoral ministry, I met many pastors’ wives who had more than her fair share of chips and dents. I was given the opportunity to speak to a group of pastors’ wives and found a fun gift to offer–a piece of hand-thrown pottery with an INTENTIONAL fault etched into the rim. As each of those wives studied the intentionally broken vessel in her hand, I asked a simple question:
“Are you surprised that your life is hard?”
Surprised at the Use, Not the Abuse
Almost every woman in the room agreed. They were NOT surprised at being tested, tried–even abused by unkind people. Their surprise came when God continued to use them to bless others even in their broken state.
Not a New Concept
Patsy Clairmont has been telling us that broken people are some of the best witnesses for Jesus on the planet. And says it with much more flare:
“God Uses Cracked Pots”
It’s through the cracks that God’s Light–and His Love–shine brightest.
Gomer Was More Than Cracked
When I thought of Gomer and Hosea’s story, brokenness, was the word that continually ran through my mind. Gomer wasn’t just cracked. Oh no. This poor girl was absolutely demolished by the circumstances of her life–and more than likely, some were her choice and some were beyond her control.
Israel, too, was broken–demolished. They’d sinned against God and strayed so far from the Truth, they didn’t even recognize the Truth anymore.
What About You and Me?
Are you surprised that life is hard? God can use those cracks and breaks to shine His love through us to a hurting world–and in the process, His love warms us from the inside out.
“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.”
2 Corinthians 4:7-10
Today’s Question:
- How has a broken place in your life made you better able to shine God’s Light and Love to others?
Comments 4
Thanks, Mesu, for your words that always speak to my heart.
Right now the role of pastor’s wife is particularly challenging as our church makes difficult financial decisions about our future. It is only my trust in my Creator and Sustainer and Lover of my soul that carries me through right now. It is hard knowing my sweet husband is burdened even more than I am for our church family to become the disciples we are called to be. Encouraging them to walk with the Lord in a new way is proving to be an uphill climb. Remembering that life is hard and we are all broken vessels helps me keep proper perspective on our situation, and relax in the Lord – as you always say – in his arms. 🙂
Love you,
Day
Author
Hey, precious friend!
While writing this book, I also had the “opportunity” to see the brokenness of those around me. Another “ah-hah” moment for me came when I tried to figure out how to make a believable character of Hosea…how could a man truly love a woman who repeatedly betrayed, constantly put up walls. That’s why I wrote the story as if they’d known each other as children. The Lord began to show me the angry, hurtful people around me as children who had once been innocent, kind, playful, joyful–before the world broke them. It’s amazing how nice I can be to someone when I imagine them sucking their thumb! ha! Sorry…a little orneriness slipped out there! Love to you and your hubby! 😉
What a beautiful post. And a great question. As a writer, I always wrote stories that didn’t pertain too closely to my life. It made it really easy. But then, just before publication, I found myself face to face with the exact issues I wrote about. Shattering that happy little bubble I was living (and writing) in. It was a difficult moment to stand up, despite all the dust and pick up the pen, this time knowing that I wasn’t just writing “a” story, I was writing “my” story. Now, on other side of it, I know God wanted me to be chipped and broken, so that I could have a better understanding of grace and a GREATER understanding of redemption. Before, they were words, but now they’re my life. Thank you for this great post! I am so excited to read your books. I haven’t read one yet and I’m wondering if I should start with Love In a Broken Vessel, or go back to the beginning.
Author
Hi Joanne!
How fun to “meet” you here! I’ve heard wonderful things about your books, and it’s such a blessing to get a glimpse of your journey. Each of my books is vastly different–yet a single golden thread is woven through everything I write. The unyielding love of God for His people never ceases to amaze me. He’s enigmatic to Job, relentless for Solomon, and abundant through Hosea. Each stands alone, so you can read them in whatever order the Lord leads. It will be fun to keep in touch and maybe someday meet at a conference! Blessings, gal! 😉