Bring Your Broken Pieces (And Start New)Sample

Bring Your Past

Charlie tugged on her aunt’s sleeve until she leaned closer. Charlie whispered into her ear, “Please help me get my mother away from him. Get her out of the situation she’s in.” Her words turned into a prayer, “Lord, please save my mom.”

Her mom, Tara, had stayed away to hide the bruises on her face, trapped in the toxic relationship that put them there. Trapped from all the decisions in her past that had gotten her to this point. She’d grown up with a good family and a grandfather who always kept them in church, but she’d developed a lying problem. It only got worse in her teen years. She would be whomever and do whatever was necessary to fit in.

Tara didn’t know who she was. She felt so empty. She was never happy. She started smoking pot. Then it was pills. Next, alcohol. Meth came later when she started dating a guy who used it. She just gave herself away and cycled through one bad relationship after another. She looked for love in all the wrong places and was so, so lonely. A loud voice in her mind kept saying she’d never be loved, and then the men she dated backed that up.

“What’s wrong with you?” Tara’s dad asked one evening. “You’re barely calling your daughter.”

Tara dropped her gaze. “I just think she’s better off without me.”

Her dad ran a hand down his face. “You think that you’re better off without your mom.”

The words were a gut punch. Tara’s mom had passed away, and she missed her so much it hurt. “N-no. Of course not.”

Tara’s dad pointed at Charlie. “Go ask that six-year-old if she’s better off without you.”

Tara didn’t answer. There was nothing she could say to that.

It took her a week, but at last, she came around. She got accepted into True Purpose Ministries. But there was one glaring obstacle: the bad boyfriend.

“Lord, please,” she pleaded. “Make a way for me to get away from him.”

Only a few minutes later, her abuser stood up. “I’ll be back right back.”

Tara knew this was her chance. He never went away and here he was leaving.

So, Tara left, too. She walked away, calling her family for a ride. A few days later, she was in True Purpose Ministries and getting the help she needed.

It wasn’t too late to start over. Now, not only has she gained custody of her daughter, but she also has a 4.0 GPA in her youth ministry degree program. She lost everything, but as soon as she gave it all to God—as soon as she walked away from her old life—God was there to give her back everything immeasurably more and better.

The hardest part was that first step.

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It's not too late for you to take that first step, either. Whatever you carry from your past, bring it to the feet of Jesus. Your past is behind you; it's time to see what the Lord has in store next.

Don't forget to check out From These Broken Pieces: True Stories of Redemption by Katie Hauck Ministries if you have enjoyed this plan and want to read more real-life stories of grace and restoration.