Brave Enough to Be BrokenSample

Be Honest and Gentle with Yourself

Many of us feel the pressure to be perfect, but what we really want is the freedom to be broken. We long to hear that our brokenness doesn't discount us, and we want a way out of the pain that threatens to overwhelm us.

Trauma, abuse, childhood wounds, and toxic relationships have broken us. But there is no shame in brokenness. In fact, it’s in our brokenness where the healing power of Jesus comes to find us.

Let’s look at the story of Jesus and the woman caught in adultery in John 8. After Jesus dismisses her accusers; Jesus does not scold her or punish her for her sins. He doesn’t add to her trauma. Instead, he looks at her with love and sees her true worth as a daughter of God. One would believe this encounter with Jesus sparked this woman’s path to healing.

Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” - John 8:10-11 (NIV)

As we see in this story, Jesus is in the business of honesty and healing. He is honest with the woman that sin is a trap, and she must leave it. And, with his gentleness, he reveals that He cares more about her than her sin. He wants her to experience the fullness of God’s healing, hope, and joy.

Think about this: What areas of your life are broken? How can you look on them with the same gentleness of Jesus, and bring them into the light? Bringing our trauma, shame, and emotional wounds to God is an act of surrender (giving up control) so we can be healed.