When You Feel Broken

If you're are carrying a heavy burden and are feeling crushed and broken by it, here is what you need to remember today to pick up and move forward. #WomenLivingWell #GoodMorningGirls #Stress #Divorce

The picture above is of my kitchen floor.

Last Friday, a crew came into my home (my brother-in-law and some guys from my church) and they shattered my tiles and carried them out and this week they will be putting in new wood floors. So it’s been a long weekend in a dusty house. (I’m writing this on Sunday evening.)

When Snowball was a puppy, she would dig at the grout of our tiles.  As a result, she loosened a bunch of my tiles and once the tiles were loose, over time they began to crack.  So I had a bunch of cracked tiles, all over my kitchen floor.

And so it was time.  Time to break down the old and build the new.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-13 says:

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
…..
11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. 

My broken tiles feel symbolic of the last 2 years of my life.

I have felt:

broken.

shattered.

and crushed.

I wish I had the after photo to add to this post…but I don’t.  The floor is still a dusty mess as I type this.  BUT.  The reconstruction of the floor is coming!!!

I have full faith, that the crew will return and create something beautiful in my kitchen.

But until then, I’m waiting and I’m reminded of how muscles grow.  When you overload a muscle during weight lifting, little tears are made in the muscle.  When the muscle rests, it repairs those tears and the muscle then grows in size and strength.

Are you lifting a heavy weight today? 

Do you feel like it is crushing you?

Keep pressing on and pressing in and pressing forward.  Do not give up!  The Lord is strengthening you.

Philippians 3:14 says:

I press on toward the goal
to win the prize
for which God has called
me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Keep pressing!

Jeremiah 31:3 & 4 says:

I have loved you with an everlasting love;
    I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.
 I will build you up again.

I love this promise to be rebuilt!

This promise was to God’s people, after they had been crushed by their enemies.  But with the same tender compassion that God promised to help his people in the book of Jeremiah, he promises to rebuild us.

He wants to restore our broken places.

I have experienced God beginning to heal me.  He has restored my joy.

But I am still in the process…but I am full of hope.  Just like the hope and certainty that I have that my floors will be rebuilt – I know that God is going to rebuild my life…however he sees fit…for his glory!

Do you feel broken?

I know how you feel and I want to reassure you that we are never broken beyond God’s repair. This is the type of work God does best! He is a God who saves, heals, restores, rebuilds, transforms and redeems!  He takes us from death to life, from darkness to light, from hopeless – to full of hope – and he makes us his child!

You are a daughter of the King!

Psalm 147:3 says:

He heals the brokenhearted
    and binds up their wounds.

And 2 Corinthians 4:8 & 9 says:

We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;

In 2 Corinthians 4, Paul says he was afflicted, perplexed, persecuted and struck down but look how he triumphed through Jesus.

He was not crushed!
He was not in despair!
He was not forsaken!
And he was not destroyed!

Paul experienced the power of Christ in his life – through his brokenness – and it was because of his brokenness that God could meet his needs.

Do you feel hurt? Let God heal you.

Do you feel weak? Let God make you stronger.

Do you feel broken?  Let God rebuild you.

Wait patiently on the Lord and while you wait, be in God’s Word daily, pray daily and obey Him daily.

Trust that he’s going to make your brokenness beautiful.

Keep holding onto hope!

Walk with the King,

If you are new here – welcome! Here’s some of my other posts that talk a little more about what our family has been going through:

Will You Pray for Me and My Family?
A Heart to Heart Chat: Up Close and Personal
Everything is Going to Be Okay

39 Comments

  1. Thank you i came along your post accidentaly but your words touched me, broken as your tiles today but i have faith He will rebuild me into something beautiful.

  2. Just when more of the world fell on me, this post popped up. Exactly what I needed a reminder of. Thank you!

  3. Hi Courtney! Your blog is always so encouraging to me! I pray for you and your family.
    As I was reading the most recent post that included you kitchen floor and the personal symbolism, I noticed what I believe is a typo with one of the verses. When I looked up Isaiah 31:3+4, what I read was completely different from what you posted. I know different versions can read slightly different but this is a huge difference. Is this a typo or is the ESV that much different from KJV or NKJV?

  4. God bless you, Courtney! I thank God for your ministry. For being a light for us girls. For being a strong woman when you feel nothing like one at all. There are some growing pains when change is about. I think that’s how we gain wisdom, how we can empathize with people. Isn’t wonderfully weird how God shows us through mundane things like redoing a floor how great His grace and mercy are? I once had such an epiphany while cleaning the shower. LOL

  5. I loved the analogy of ‘broken, shattered tiles’! I am broken indeed.

    When my dad passed away, my reality of what I considered ‘family’ was shattered.

    When I married, my support system was vanished for unknown reasons!

    BUT GOD has been thru it all and He will never leave me nor forsake me. He is faithful and has been restoring my life one aspect at a time.

    My husband prays for me today, I’ve got sweet friends, am reconnecting with humble family members, and and continue to rebuild my life one day at a time with God’s help and grace.

  6. I am very broken, like your tile floor. This post really came at a time when I am feeling about as low as one can be.
    Thank you!

  7. Thanks so much for these encouraging words. I lost my 26 year old daughter to AML in 2017. It’s been a rough 3 years now, but writings like this from the Lords family is healing.

  8. Again Courtney very spot on..Just reading the comments and those who have shared their own feelings of brokenness…is testament that we don’t go through this alone..God also reminds us there are others too..and show us we are to weep with those who weep..Each of our brokenness maybe different or similar…but Gods healing is just the same..

  9. I LOVE LOVE LOVE, that everything around us points us back to our Savior! I also love that you share your heart and your experience. I love the transparency in your life. I’m sure it’s hard to be vulnerable but you are touching lives with your story. I am grateful for you and the blessing the Lord has on your life. Thank you!!

  10. Thank you for this.
    Yeah am very familiar with these words. This last 12 years but specially these 2 last years. Sometimes I also thought that I couldn’t handle it anymore I felted like dust. But the Lord has shown me His lover trough my two children specially my youngest Ariana (the 26 she becomes 2 years ????) I know our Father wil renew our family and give me a peaceful home with a spouse who loves protects and respect us for who we are. I know He will help us all. Whe only need to believe and be patient. Wait on His time not ours. Asking Him wich step or decision whe should take instead of doing what we think whe need to take.
    Blessings ????

  11. How timely this was for me. Thank you for reminding me of the hope and promises we have in Him. I needed to hear that today. <3

  12. Hi Courtney,
    I have read your blog for years but have never commented before (sorry) I’m sure I’m not alone in this 🙂
    No matter the subject all these years, your faith, words and honesty have come through.
    When my husband left me and our two young children many years ago, I wish I would have had your blog and wise/honest/biblical words from your heart to help me through.
    The ability you have to express God’s love and wisdom through trails is an inspiration to me and many, many others I’m sure.
    Your on-line bible studies that help us learn and grow in our faith is another of your gifts.
    I thank God for you and your on-line ministry. You are appreciated more than you will probably ever know!
    Please ignore the haters (It makes me sad that in your raw pain & honesty that anyone would say anything negative- but satin…)
    Your walk with the king is a blessing to us all!

  13. My devotional s this week have all been on waiting. I too have been broken and am still being rebuilt. The size of brokenness correlates to the time it may take to rebuild and so it may take Jesus longer for me . But I continue to wait .

  14. Thank you for this. I have been experienced a long season of hurt, brokenness, and I think I am almost to the rebuilding phase. I am so grateful for these verses you have posted. The Holy Spirit truly speaks through you. And to know that God is looking down and knew that your post would bless me, in this moment, is so loving of Him and so good. Thank you ????

  15. I feel broken. Lost my dear mother 2 days after Christmas and still haven’t come to terms with the fact that she has passed. I spoke to her every day on the phone but hadn’t seen her in 2 years. I always thought I would see her again some day, but it wasn’t to be. Little did I know that the last time I saw her briefly would be the last. My sister kept us apart (long story). I so wanted to see my mum and tried to several times but was always put off by mum saying “wait until we are ready.” My mum was ashamed of her home where my sister went to live 16 years ago. Mum always kept the home lovely and clean but not so my sister. I was heartbroken at the state of the home the last time I visited and mum picked up on this and I think that is why she kept putting my visits off. I was so annoyed with my sister for letting it get into such a mess and at how dirty it was because I know it was upsetting mum but she was afraid to complain. My heart is broken that this is why I never got to see my mum, i.e. because of my sister’s laziness. I can’t get passed this. I can’t believe mum passed before I seen her again. I didn’t get to say “goodbye” and I know she would have been heartbroken at not seeing me for so long. Mum was unable to travel to my home either because she was not fit to travel the distance. Yes, I am crushed that I did not see my beautiful mum. I am crushed for her because I know she must have carried the pain of not seeing her eldest daughter for so long. She was such a lovely soul. Always put others before herself. I miss her so much. Will re-read your post Courtney to see if it helps. I know you have been through so much recently also, so know that if God can heal your hurt, He can heal mine. Thank you for sharing so much of yourself and reaching out to people like myself who are in pain. God bless you.

  16. Dear Courtney as I read I could not help the tears coming out. They are tears of sorrow and joy at the same time. The sentiment I feel when I read your articles are of love and thankfulness. I am sad for your losses but I am hopeful with you that God will rebuild something greater in your life. Thank you as always for sharing your love and God’s love. Thank you for being a mentor from distance to all of us.

    Best regards,

    Maria

  17. I too have been struggling the last 2 years. This life can be so hard! Today I am lifted up in 2 Corinthians 5. He is my comforter! Thank you for this. It’s heartwarming to know we all go through suffering.

  18. Thank you for an on time word from the Lord! I literally just asked the Lord to speak to me! Then He lead me to this! Yes I have also been in a 2 year battle! My heart twisted and shattered in a way I did not know was possible. But here in He assures me that nothing lasts forever…yes even a broken heart. He loves me and He is leading me beside still waters… Teaching to trust him even when nothing makes sense. I have to believe that! I have to believe that on the other side of this what seems like chaos in my soul is the most Free and Alive I will ever be! God’s plans do not fail! God Bless you on your walk in Christ! We will meet someday I’m sure.

  19. God bless you for this good message Courtney! You and your husband and kids are in my prayers! He does exceedingly abundantly above what we ask or think!
    Walk with the KIng! (And you are such a blessing!)
    Maria

  20. Encouraging!
    Is the Isaiah verse the correct chapter and verse? I don’t see that quote in Isaiah 31.
    Thanks & Love ????

  21. What wonderful symbolism!

    I have too, been broken to despair. But i know that God allowed that to happen to rebuild me “stronger & better”. (Reference The 6 Million Dollar Man. lol) He rebuilt me to have a strong relationship with Him. His will be done! ♥

  22. You can’t imagine how much I needed to hear this today. I’m encouraged by your words to “press on”. Thank you.

  23. Courtney, this is absolutely one of the most powerful messages I have EVER heard as a Christian.
    I am going to print it out and place it in my bible. I believe that you ARE leading by example, that you are LIVING what you preach, and I confidently KNOW that God’s Word is a living Word, for us today as it was when it was inspired. My sister in Christ, I admire you, I am inspired by you, I respect your call to teach, and I PRAY for you. God is working through you and IN you, and I’m believing for healing and future happiness for you (I know you ALREADY possess the JOY of the Lord.) What compassion you will have gained toward others in this journey (and that’s but one of MANY strengths God is building in you as He repairs and/or employs all shards of your brokenness.)
    Much love to you, my sister in Jesus! I wish you every joy and much happiness to come, too.
    Peace! ~TONI

  24. I just read the entire post. Guess I was meant to read it today completely instead of the day it was posted. Thank you for sharing Courtney.

  25. This post reminds me of when I was going through a horrible time. I listened to the Casting Crowns song 20 times a day because it felt like I was living that song. Part of the song says, “Not a tear is wasted, in time you’ll understand, I’m painting beauty with the ashes, your life is in my hands”, and it hit me that there are only ashes when there is a fire. A fire is usually a totally devastating event.

  26. I have gone through a very similar trial to yours Courtney. I have been married 11 years and have 2 school aged boys. My husband did not leave, but the pain and brokenness he has inflicted my soul with has been overwhelming some days. I am inspired by your strength and optimism. Fighting through this trial, even with the Lord and amazing godly support and counsel has been very trying. Putting a marriage back together is only possible by the grace of God. Thank you so much for sharing your heart and story. I love how you share the hope of Christ in your journey…someone once told me “what you feed grows, what you starve dies.” Focusing on and magnifying the glimmer of hope God reveals versus the darkness Satan is dishing out all around is the only way to glorify God through our trials. Many blessings to you and your beautiful family!

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