Mending Broken Pieces

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Who is in Control?

Reality! What’s it like – I mean the place where you are right now – geographically, emotionally, and spiritually?

Throughout life, we will meet all kinds of people, go to various places, deal with diverse situations, and experience different seasons. Then, there’s the other aspect - in actuality, we simply have no control of life. But the Master Builder, the Creator, does. In the first place, He is the one who has designed and planned for each of us to be here on earth.

As you go through life with all its twists and turns, how do you do life? When there is brokenness, as illustrated on the front cover, how do you cope? Is your life like a ship sailing smoothly on peaceful waters or tossing wildly by the heavy winds and boisterous waves on a stormy day?

Mark 4 gives us a glimpse of what happens in a storm and how people can react. It was evening when Jesus and his disciples crossed to the other side of the lake (Mark 4:35). Many times the other side is the unknown or the unexpected. The disciples thought they were going on a regular boat ride, but little did they realize they were going to learn the lesson of their lives.

These disciples had seen Jesus heal all kinds of sicknesses and diseases, and cast out demons, but they had never seen him work miracles in this manner. With just one command, they saw him calm the wind and waves – a lesson that would forever be in their minds! In other words, they learned what it meant to trust God in a brand-new way.

What does it mean to trust God? The Apostle Paul writes: “We put no confidence in human effort, though I could have confidence in my own effort if anyone could” (Philippians 3: 3-4 NLT). Yes, Paul realized the many achievements he had received will not suffice. He had to depend on Jesus.

After the Apostle Paul surrendered his life to God, he understood that someone greater than himself was in control. He didn’t go through life relying on his own strength and abilities; he depended wholly on God. Like any other human being, Paul had to deal with the challenges and perplexities of life, but he allowed God to be the steering wheel of his life.

PRAYER:
Dear God, in this rocky ride, when everything seems to be falling apart, I choose to let you into my life. Amen.

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From Pain to Singing!

It wasn’t over

Then sings my soul

How great your love is!

Light up this broken heart!

Hillsong Worship: “Behold (Then Sings My Soul)” (Emphasis Added)

God can use any negative emotion in our lives - like pain, rejection, or criticism – that can break our hearts, and make us feel unworthy or sad. Thank goodness, we don’t need to stay in that state of brokenness. When we cry out to God for help He loves to come to our rescue.

In 1Samuel 1, we see Hannah was barren - frustrated and sorrowful – all at the same time.

Hannah had an unshakeable dream, which took her to the Throne Room. Hannah knew her God, a miracle-working God, could touch a woman’s womb. She was so caught up in worship and prayer that she touched the heavens! It’s no wonder that the priest told her God would grant her the request she had been praying for (1 Samuel 1: 17).

God loves to answer our prayers. In moments when our souls are persistently crying out to God, when we acknowledge that God is limitless, the impossible becomes possible. Such was the case with Hannah. The next year, she received her miracle - her son, Samuel, was born (1 Samuel 1:20).