Broken Together

There’s a song I used to love. I still love it! It’s called, “Broken Together,” by Casting Crowns. It’s about marriage and the realization that we’re not perfect, but by coming together in Christ, even when we’re broken, He can make what’s broken work. Hence the title of the song: “Broken Together.”

I love that. I love it because I know I’m broken…and in a lot of places. As much as I see Drake as my knight in shining armor, he’s broken, too. Sometimes our broken together isn’t pretty, but when we find our way to get past our own selves and lay it out before God, it’s amazing how humbling it can be and we feel united again….still broken, but together. 

I think the same can be said of us as people in general. Be honest. There are times we think we’ve got it all figured out. We’re convinced that we’re seeing things and handling things the right way. We might even be wondering what on earth is wrong with the rest of the world because we have got it figured out.

Or maybe it’s the opposite. We might know we are one piece of bad news away from needing a padded room, or at the very least, just breaking down and/or bursting into tears. But we act like we are good. Maybe because admitting our struggle will make it too real?

I know I’ve had moments of all the above. Those memes about adulting not always being what we thought it would be are no joke! Who knew naps and time outs for grown ups would be a luxury? I think they also allow for an opportunity to admit we don’t always have it all together.

Admitting that we’re broken is actually freeing. When we share our vulnerabilities with trusted friends and family, it allows them to come alongside us. It also make us more approachable. Trying to present perfection has a tendency to alienate. But more importantly, when we go to God with our brokenness, it allows Him to restore us. 

It’s intimidating to trust someone enough to be vulnerable. I get that! Drake is the one person I trust most in my life. But it still doesn’t come easy for me. Beyond that, I am a perfectionist at heart. I can be masterful at making everything look good and sparkly on the outside, when in reality, life can feel like a piece of glass that’s one crack away from shattering. I used to let pride, insecurity, competitiveness, and fear of revealing my weaknesses prevent me from presenting my actual reality. I think I was afraid of being seen as a failure and that I’d be alone.

You know what? I was my own worst enemy. The stress swirling inside of me trying to maintain that unattainable perfection created a lonely place of isolation. It sowed seeds for distance in relationships. It also created brokenness. 

That was not and is not God’s intent for me or you. He set us free from all of that.

I love these two reminders from Paul:

Romans 8:2, “For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.” (ESV)

And 

2 Corinthians 4:8-9 “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.” (ESV)

Friend. If I can leave you with one thought today…and everyday really….it’s ok not to be perfect. It’s even ok not to be half perfect! We don’t have to live under the premise that we will never be enough. Our brokenness is made beautiful when we are together in Christ.