I think we have already established here at Surviving Motherhood that I am not perfect. This confession should come as a surprise to no one who is even a semi-regular reader of this blog.
And I am glad to know the women who leave comments are on the same page as me when it comes to imperfection. (I'm trusting those who do not comment are in agreement, too, but I'll never know unless you tell me. hint, hint *big grin*)
As I mentioned last week, I am writing a talk which I will be giving to a group of women at a Mother's Day Luncheon in Florida. Part of my talk will be addressing an issue with which I think many of us struggle - be it in motherhood, or any other aspect of our lives - and I want to share just a bit of that with you here today.
The talk I am going to present comes from Mark 6:30-44, when Jesus fed five thousand men (plus all the women and kids!!!) with five loaves of bread and two fish.
The specific thing I want to address today is what Jesus did to the bread in order to make it "enough."
Clearly, the bread - as it was when the disciples gave it to Jesus - was not enough to feed the hungry crowd. There is no way 1,000+ people were going to gather around a loaf of bread and all eat of it. Not gonna happen! Jesus had to do something to it first.
So He took the bread and after giving thanks, He broke it. And somehow, in the breaking of the bread, the power of God came in and made it enough. Every person seated on that hillside ate and was satisfied, and there were twelve baskets full of left over pieces. Is that not amazing???
The thing that really spoke to me when I was studying this passage was Jesus' ability to take something which didn't seem to be anywhere near adequate, and make it enough.
And I realized that is exactly what He does with me.
Jesus takes me into His hands, breaks me, and makes me enough.
Enough of a mother.
Enough of a wife.
Enough of a friend.
Enough of a sister.
Enough of a daughter.
Enough.
Because, do you know what happens when I come face-to-face with my brokenness? I come face-to-face with the reality that I, on my own, am not enough. I am not strong enough, wise enough, experienced enough, charming enough, or capable enough. I cannot do any of this life on my own.
In the face of my brokenness I recognize my imperfection and my complete desperation for God. I am reminded of the Truth that I can do nothing without Him, but with Him - and by His grace alone - I can do anything.
As I admit my need, and relinquish myself to God's power - through my brokenness - He makes me enough. And I have found brokenness is such a good place to be, because when I am there, I am in His hands.
Perfection? That is not gonna happen this side of heaven.
But brokenness? I can live up to that!
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Brokenness? I Can Live Up to That!
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30 comments:
Thank you! What a blessing! This is a lifelong struggle for me. Never being enough. Never giving enough. Never doing enough.
What part of Florida? We're in the Panhandle, near Destin.
This brought tears to my eyes and chills to my body. What revelation. Thank-you Karen.
Father God I want to thank You for my dear friend Karen. Thank You for using her to speak to me. I ask Lord that you bless her and keep Your hand upon her and her family. Father I give You praise, honor and glory. Amen
Truly an anointed post! Big hugs dear sister. I just want to reach otu and give you a hug! AMEN. AMEN! AMEN! You go girl! Love it!
Beautiful thoughts Karen.
YES, broken is what I am. And when I think I'm completely broken, He shows me that there is more work to do!
Wonderful post! When I am broken, it is truly a sign of my Lord's incredible grace. He breaks me and molds me because He loves me that much. He's not content with leaving me "as is." Thank you for the reminder! Your blog is a blessing to those who read it!
So good!
Thanks for coming to visit today! I'm enojoying your blog.
So wonderful!
Thank you for sharing with us.
Have a wonderful trip to Florida... the ladies will definitely be blessed.
Julie
Enough.
I love it. I've never heard nor made that connection, but it's beautiful.
I'm going to think about that all day today (Saturday), and on this day of waiting, leading up to Easter morning, it's a wonderful meditation.
He broke the bread...and it was enough.
He was broken for us...and it was enough.
We're broken and needy...and He makes us enough...
Good news, indeed! In fact, He gives us far more than than we could ask or imagine--more than enough--with fruits of the Spirit, His written Word, forgiveness...
There's so much here, I can't stop thinking about it.
Karen,
That is one of the most inspiring things I've ever read. I've never heard this message taught like that, but it makes so much sense!
I love it.
I intend to share this with many people, so powerful!
Thank you.
Have a wonderful Easter,
Sue
Very well put and something I needed to hear. BTW - LOVE your blog. I'm all-about PINK!
Thank you for this wonderful post! I have been thinking alot about trials and being broken lately. I'm so glad I came by!
I enjoyed visiting today and I was moved by your writing, this is something that will change how I look at myself thank you for the wisdom. I came to by way of Sue @ praise and coffee.
Wow. That's what I needed to hear. I came here from Sue @ Praise&Coffee. I'm totally experiencing that brokenness today. God has asked me to walk through the death of my Gram, the death of my dad, major dental work, and possible knee surgery. In all that I feel that I'm not enough as a wife, as a mom, as a friend. I just feel broken. I know I can't do this on my own. It's so assuring to think of Him making me enough.
Hi Karen - came over from Sue's.
Beautifully written. I think sometimes we women are fearful of giving it up, relinquishing our all, and realizing that enough is enough. Because we have too many distractions and fears.
Thank you for this post! So well said. :)
Sandy
about 6 years ago, I would have no idea what you were talking about when you said "brokeness", now being there a few times I can relate to this post!
I LOVE this!! Isn't it amazing how we can know a Scripture and look at from a differnt angle and God breathes whole new meaning!!! This is very profound!!!!
I found you via Praise and Coffee - a site I regularly visit. What an inspiring lesson. And one I'll be chewing on all week. That was so powerful. Thank you for sharing.
I also just found you through Praise and Coffee...I'm glad I clicked over here! I'll be adding you to my bloglines.
As I sit here with my chewed up cuticles around my nails (GROSS! Did I just type that?!) an un-hideable evidence that I'm broken, I thank God that this is the place He meets me and transforms me into more than enough. He + my brokeness = wholeness! Thank God! and thank you for writing this.
visit my blogs if you ever get a sec!:-)
Sheila
Very cool!! Thank you for sharing your wisdom and your heart:)
God Bless,
Deb
came here by way of Sue(Praise and Coffee)
Such a powerful message, one I think so many women need. Most only go the the place that they aren't enough and then begin to fill up those empty, hungering place with so many, many things instead of letting Christ fill us up. It's hard because it is in being broken that we are filled full with Him.
Brokeness IS an ok place to be.
Hi, here via Sue.
Great thoughts, broken and able to help others, and to think how much was left over in the end?
Blessings on your upcoming talk with the women.
In Christ's love,
Susan
I could echo so much of what the others said. This blessed me. I will be thinking on this for a long time. Truly inspired. I can't wait to hear the response from the ladies who will get to hear this message in person. His work through you is breathtaking and such an ecouragement.
Wow! Great thoughts!
So, are you driving to FL?? Any layovers??
Oh, wow! He broke it! Karen, this is profound! Thank you! Feeling exceptionally broken this week! I needed this!
Thank you for letting God speak through you!
xoxox,
Maria
Your post was such a good reminder to me to remember what the brokenness in my life has brought to me.
Brokenness, though hard to experience, has brought me great freedom, healing and life. Without it life is empty.
Paul said he took glory in his weakness....after all when he was weak Jesus then became strong. I used to think weakness was a sign of failure. No longer... I have found weakness to be the greatest success for my walk with God. When I am weak...He is everything, life becomes about HIM.
Thanks for sharing,
Julie
What a way to look at this verse & thank you so very much for analysing it this way! Brokeness - yes, I too think I can live up to this. I'm so glad that Sue from "Two Shall Become One Tuesdays" meme recommended us to read your post.
You're so right in the knowledge that we cannot be enough without Him who gives us the strength to endure each day.
God Bless, HL
I came over to visit from the link on Sue's blog. Glad I did. This is a wonderful post.
Susan
I love this. Thank you so much. It goes along with what a speaker said to us at a Pastor's wives retreat... there are things in our lives that need to be changed... and can be changed but before that can happen we need to be broken before the LORD and pour our brokeness out as an offering before the LORD... and allow HIM to mend our brokenness.
I really love the word picture of the bread and how you expounded on that. It must be something GOD is trying to get across to me... the same sort of message within two weeks.
LORD... break me...
Thank you for sharing this powerful message. My whole life I've never felt enough. I now have four children of my own and still feel I'm not enough. It's tough feeling this way, I don't know how to let go of the brokenness endured. I try but it always returns. Thank you for reminding me of God's love in someone like me. I look forward to viewing more inspirational messages.
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