We all have it somewhere in our lives. We have all been broken- in so many different ways.

Sometimes our bodies are broken by disease, deficiencies, accidents, or abuse. Sometimes our hearts are broken by loss, betrayal, loneliness, or shame. Sometimes our minds are broken by anxiety, depression, or obsessive thoughts.

Whether your marriage is broken, your relationship with your child is broken, or your finances are broken- that brokenness can have a purpose. It HAS a purpose.

To not have lost or been devastated or suffered is the life we all strive for, hope for, dream of in our mind's eye, but it's only when we've been broken- and there are frayed places and tiny puncture wounds in our soul- that the light of Christ can shine through:

Our imperfect brokenness openly radiates His perfect brokenness.

When we are broken, our God mends us back together, but never just the same. We are more loosely packed, full of little holes, less structurally sound.

We are softer.

We walk and wear brokenness, like a badge- but not for our glory, for His.

"Look how I was broken... But God."

And all that new softness is for a purpose. It creates a tenderness towards the hearts of others who are walking around with the same kind of broken- the same holes, worn thin.

It gives us the ability to see the same hurts, betrayals, and losses in others. These sacred broken parts, once healed, are stronger than ever before. Through their thinness- now less rigid, more malleable- we are made stronger.

This new strength and perspective gives us the ability to love our broken brethren when others can't, encourage them when others won't, comfort when others don't know how.

The purpose of being broken- in even small, unobservable ways- is the availability of our injury in God's greater plan.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. - 2 Corinthians 1:3-5

It's only when we have cracks, that God can seep into the darkest places and His Love seep right back out.