Repurposing The Broken

Being broken is painful. It may happen suddenly, or it may happen over a period of time from ongoing circumstances, or a series of situations. Regardless of how we become broken, it’s encouraging to remember that with God broken doesn’t mean useless.

A commonly used word now, especially on home decorating and design shows, is ‘repurposed’. Something that was broken and destined for the trash pile is painted, decorated, or otherwise redesigned to use for another purpose.

It’s interesting to see the difference a little creativity and time can make with items that appeared to have little or no value left in them because they were chipped, dented, missing pieces, or otherwise considered useless.

The word ‘repurposed’ may be popular, but it hasn’t made it into the dictionary yet. The word ‘recycled’ is in the dictionary though, and it basically means the same thing.

The word ‘recycle’ means: as a verb (used with object) – to treat or process (used or waste materials) so as to make suitable for reuse, or to alter or adapt for new use without changing the essential form or nature of.

‘Recycle‘ as a verb (used without object) – to undergo reuse or renewal; be subject to or suitable for further use, activity, etc.

The word ‘broken‘ is defined as a verb:past participle of break – defined as ‘to shatter, burst, or become broken; separate into parts or fragments, especially suddenly and violently’.

‘Broken‘ as an adjective: reduced to fragments; fragmented, or ruptured; torn; fractured.

God has a purpose and a plan for your life, even if you’ve been shattered, fractured, or broken by life. Just as the sun is bright and beautiful breaking through the dark clouds in my picture, God can make your life bright and beautiful when you give Him the broken pieces.

May the following quote encourage you to let God, the Creator of the Universe, use His creative power to repurpose what’s broken in your life:

“God uses broken things. It takes broken soil to produce a crop, broken clouds to give rain, broken grain to give bread, broken bread to give strength. It is the broken alabaster box that gives forth perfume. It is Peter, weeping bitterly, who returns to greater power than ever. Stay broken, my friends.” ~John Arthur Thomas