I have been an online shopper for a long time. COVID-19 and stay at home recommendations have increased deliveries to my home. I have ordered all kinds of household items including groceries. Recently, I received a broken package.
It was quite the surprise to open the box to see that there was no bubble wrap around the ranch dressing. When the delivery person dropped it on the front step one jar shattered cheating a huge mess in the box. By the time I opened the box the dressing was starting to ooze out the bottom of the box.
Once I got past my frustration at the apparent idiocy of the person who packed the box without protecting the glass objects, I started cleaning up the mess. I was tempted to throw out the entire box of goods and not be bothered with the clean up. Recognizing that much of it could be salvaged, I started cleaning.
In many ways we are all broken packages. We have wounds. Our lives are messy. We make monumental mistakes. We feel unsalvageable. Yet, God sees us differently. He sees through the ranch dressing and shards of glass to the persons we were intended to be and begins cleaning.
God’s the one who rebuilds Jerusalem,
who regathers Israel’s scattered exiles.
He heals the heartbroken
and bandages their wounds.
He counts the stars
and assigns each a name.
Our Lord is great, with limitless strength;
we’ll never comprehend what he knows and does.
God puts the fallen on their feet again
and pushes the wicked into the ditch. (Psalm 147:2-6 MSG).
No matter how broken I feel, on days when I look at my husband and say, “I’m a hot mess,” when my insides are raging with anxiety that doesn’t match my reality, God reaches out to me and starts cleaning. He reminds me that I am His. He brings people into my path that remind me I’m cared for. He guides me to scriptures and devotions that are salve for my soul. He puts me back on my feet again. No matter how difficult my circumstances feel, He brings me hope. I may be a broken package, but God is in the business of putting the pieces back together, cleaning up the mess, and making me stronger in the process.
Do you know God is helping you clean up your brokenness? Have you experienced His hope? Has he made you stronger? Share your experience here and breathe life and bring hope to others.