I moved into my home during the winter months. I noticed that I have a flower bed in my backyard that is an absolute mess. Who knew what was growing in the jumbled mess of weeds and limbs? I knew it needed to be cleaned, but with the busyness of work, school, kids, church, and extra-curricular activities, I never got around to it. I saw that eyesore out my kitchen window daily. One day, during the spring, I noticed green begin to appear. “Oh great, here come the weeds.” A few weeks later, I was looking out my window, and noticed something red in that mess. I walked out, and there was a rose bush sprouting red roses. Not only are those my favorite flower, they were also my favorite color. And right there, the beauty found in those weeds, brought tears of joy to my eyes.
I am 40 years old, and in those years, I’ve discovered lots of weeds and experienced more brokenness then I want to admit. I’m the happy girl, always with a smile and the reason is because there is One who has seen my shattered dreams. He is the Potter that takes my brokenness and turns them into something beautiful. One of my favorite scriptures is found in Isaiah:
To grant [consolation and joy] to those who mourn in Zion–to give them an ornament (a garland or diadem) of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, the garment [expressive] of praise instead of a heavy, burdened, and failing spirit–that they may be called oaks of righteousness [lofty, strong, and magnificent, distinguished for uprightness, justice, and right standing with God], the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified. (Isaiah 61:3 AMP)
God looks at this vessel, with all the broken pieces, scattered all about. He gently picks up those pieces and begins to put them back together.
He heals the hurts. He dries the tears. He carries you through the tough times.
And He doesn’t just put us back together. He makes those pieces more beautiful than before. He puts laughter back into the heart.
God is in the creation business and when we reach out to Him, he makes us new. He’s always faithful. And He promises us that our righteousness will be as the oak tree: strong and upright. After all, He has planted us. He put the pieces back together. He made promises beauty after the fire.
My flower bed is still overgrown. The complications of life prevented me from cleaning it out..again. But, do you know what I saw when I looked out my window today? Green branches emerging from the brown weeds surrounding it. Soon, I’ll see red peeking out at me, with all their promises.
Beauty in the brokenness.
(Originally published April 6, 2014 · by mywildgardenblog)