BENT BUT NOT BROKEN
Psalms 32:20
For the Lord protects the bones of the righteous; not one of them is broken.
When life seems to be breaking us down, we can find strength to adapt, learn and persevere, emerging stronger and more resilient. Whether it’s the loss of a loved one, a serious illness, or even a job loss, these experiences can bend us, but they won’t break us.
Have you ever practiced yoga? I use the word “practice” because I believe yoga is never truly mastered; it’s a continuous practice of bending and stretching your body to increase flexibility, enhance self-awareness, and foster a deeper understanding of yourself. The actual definition of yoga is “to unite,” symbolizing perfect harmony between the body and soul.
When we feel ourselves bending over the pressures in life we turn to prayer, we ask for God’s help to bring peace and harmony into our lives so that we have the strength to carry on.
What are some of the challenges you have faced in your life? Did it break you? Obviously not, for you are here today. The challenges may bend or distort our path but we can find our way with trust and faith in God, making us stronger rather than broken.
Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged; for the Lord our God is with you wherever you go.
I have battled my share of challenges in my life; from losing many people that I have loved to surviving cancer. The most frightening I think was from a little bitty tick, I wasn’t sure I was going to survive that one, Steve was even worried. But, God sent me an angel in the form of an infectious disease specialist who was able to figure it out and got me onto the path to recovery. I have definitely felt like I was bent in every direction a few times in my life, yet I didn’t break. I had faith that God was always there watching over me and when I needed the extra help he carried me.
The Bible speaks of God’s grace and love as a source of support during difficult times. This idea goes along with the bending under pressure but no breaking, because God’s presence and guidance provides a strength needed to get us through these difficult times.
2 Corinthians 4:8-10
We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.
When I first started kicking around idea for this weeks topic my first thought was not about being bent; it was, “are you broken?” I’m sure there are times when you feel like you are broken, when the pressure gets to be too much. But, the answer to that question is “NO”, you are not broken. Being broken can mean you are irreparable. A broken bone mends and a broken heart heals. If you’ve ever broken a vase you know that those pieces can be glued back together, just as you can put you life back together, you can be repaired. But maybe there is a little crack somewhere from all that bending though, that’s where doubt and insecurities seep in. You wonder if you are doing it all wrong, that you have bent all that you can bend. That my friend is why we show up here every Sunday seeking God’s help and healing words to fill those little cracks that we sometimes cannot see, but he does; he knows where we are weak. He knows where and when we need a little glue to hold us together because we are not going to break, we’re just going to bend a little bit; because we are bent but not broken. And if that means getting down on bended knee to pray for his help, then we get down on those knees. “I hit me knees with my hands held high saying “dear Lord, Jesus, you know I can’t do this on my own, I can’t do this on my own”. Strong by Anne Wilson, one of my favorite songs, though I feel like it’s more of an anthem.
Philippians 4:13
For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
For the Lord protects the bones of the righteous; not one of them is broken.
When life seems to be breaking us down, we can find strength to adapt, learn and persevere, emerging stronger and more resilient. Whether it’s the loss of a loved one, a serious illness, or even a job loss, these experiences can bend us, but they won’t break us.
Have you ever practiced yoga? I use the word “practice” because I believe yoga is never truly mastered; it’s a continuous practice of bending and stretching your body to increase flexibility, enhance self-awareness, and foster a deeper understanding of yourself. The actual definition of yoga is “to unite,” symbolizing perfect harmony between the body and soul.
When we feel ourselves bending over the pressures in life we turn to prayer, we ask for God’s help to bring peace and harmony into our lives so that we have the strength to carry on.
What are some of the challenges you have faced in your life? Did it break you? Obviously not, for you are here today. The challenges may bend or distort our path but we can find our way with trust and faith in God, making us stronger rather than broken.
Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged; for the Lord our God is with you wherever you go.
I have battled my share of challenges in my life; from losing many people that I have loved to surviving cancer. The most frightening I think was from a little bitty tick, I wasn’t sure I was going to survive that one, Steve was even worried. But, God sent me an angel in the form of an infectious disease specialist who was able to figure it out and got me onto the path to recovery. I have definitely felt like I was bent in every direction a few times in my life, yet I didn’t break. I had faith that God was always there watching over me and when I needed the extra help he carried me.
The Bible speaks of God’s grace and love as a source of support during difficult times. This idea goes along with the bending under pressure but no breaking, because God’s presence and guidance provides a strength needed to get us through these difficult times.
2 Corinthians 4:8-10
We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.
When I first started kicking around idea for this weeks topic my first thought was not about being bent; it was, “are you broken?” I’m sure there are times when you feel like you are broken, when the pressure gets to be too much. But, the answer to that question is “NO”, you are not broken. Being broken can mean you are irreparable. A broken bone mends and a broken heart heals. If you’ve ever broken a vase you know that those pieces can be glued back together, just as you can put you life back together, you can be repaired. But maybe there is a little crack somewhere from all that bending though, that’s where doubt and insecurities seep in. You wonder if you are doing it all wrong, that you have bent all that you can bend. That my friend is why we show up here every Sunday seeking God’s help and healing words to fill those little cracks that we sometimes cannot see, but he does; he knows where we are weak. He knows where and when we need a little glue to hold us together because we are not going to break, we’re just going to bend a little bit; because we are bent but not broken. And if that means getting down on bended knee to pray for his help, then we get down on those knees. “I hit me knees with my hands held high saying “dear Lord, Jesus, you know I can’t do this on my own, I can’t do this on my own”. Strong by Anne Wilson, one of my favorite songs, though I feel like it’s more of an anthem.
Philippians 4:13
For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
Recent
Archive
Categories
no categories