2010 was starting off to be a Happy New Year until I dropped my 6 pound laptop on my baby toe the first weekend of January. As the sensation of pain enveloped my entire body, I blacked out for about 60 seconds and after regaining consciousness I went on about my day. However, after several weeks of enduring a painfully swollen baby toe, I decided to get an X-ray. One day later, the doctor called to confirm my worst nightmare—I had broken my toe. I wanted to cry because I had never broken a bone in my body & also because I had walked around for months enduring great pain because I thought that my toe, although swollen, would be okay.
The doctor informed me that the only thing that I could do would be to buy some surgical tape & for the next few weeks tape my baby toe to the toe next to it. I was also instructed to place a cold pack on my toe for 15 minutes at a time as often as possible. While I doctored on my toe for weeks, God began to reveal to me the issues that we struggle with regarding brokenness.
There are so many people going through life with broken hearts, broken spirits and so on. When brokenness goes undiagnosed or worse it’s ignored, the person endures months even years of unnecessary pain that may be inflicted onto other people. You’ve heard the saying, “Hurt people, hurt people” and it is so true because people suffering from brokenness are in fact hurting on the inside and then they consciously and sometimes unconsciously hurt other innocent people. Not only is this unhealthy but the person suffering from brokenness fails to see the importance of getting the help that they need out of fear, shame or guilt.
5 Ways To Deal With Brokenness
1. Seek professional help from certified/licensed counselors, therapists, ministers, etc. “Where there is no guidance, the people fall, but in abundance of counselors there is victory.” Proverbs 11:14
2. Connect yourself with someone who is stronger than you in faith, experiences, and humility and who will consistently encourage you and intercede for you on your journey. “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” James 5:16 / “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.” Proverbs 27:17
3. Learn how to have cooling off periods—if you find yourself abusing others (physically, mentally, verbally, etc), then you need to dig deeper to discover yourself, the root of your hurt and find ways to exhibit more self-control. “Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret - it leads only to evil.” Psalm 37:8
4. Understand and accept that your path to healing is not an overnight process. It won’t be easy but stay vigilant about fixing the broken areas that exist in your life. “Make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness…”2 Peter 1:5-6
5. Envision yourself as a better person, a whole person with a loving heart, a happy spirit, and a positive attitude. Know that your future (relationships, success, dreams and goals, etc) looks better than your past. “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit dries the bones” Proverbs 17:22(KJV)
Brokenness is not a problem or issue too big for God. Surrender yourself to get the help that you need and take it one day at a time. I’ve had to make some major adjustments with my broken toe as it continues to heal but I have faith that in time it will be stronger and even better than before. Likewise, when the broken areas of your life become filled with peace, joy and contentment, you will also be stronger and even better than before!
Book References
Brokenness: The Heart God Revives by Nancy Leigh DeMoss
The Blessings of Brokenness by Charles Stanley
Healing for Damaged Emotions by David A. Seamands
Hope for Wholeness by Sharon L. Fawcett
