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I had just read an incredible story of the grace of God in a life that the world would never have given the possibility of success. And whether or not the world would credit him with success today, really doesn’t matter. In the eyes of God, he overcame the cruelties, distortions, and misdirection that life can sometimes inflict. He overcame, not in his own strength, but through the power and love of God. He was very aware of his own failures, but he found the God he could trust implicitly, and he did. He is one who has given, even in the face of premature death, praise and glory to his God, and a dynamic testimony of God’s grace to any who were willing to listen. After I read his story, I went into my bedroom and caught the Bible verse that the speaker on the radio was quoting. He who began a good work in you will perfect it. And I thought, how much like God that is! God delights in taking broken and imperfect people, lavishing them with His love and His grace, and from the ashes of that brokenness, bringing a beauty that will reflect His love and His grace to still others.
When our brokenness brings us before God, it finds that which we most long for and yet that which we are so fearful we will never receive because we are so utterly unworthy. Our brokenness meets an acceptance that can powerfully transform our lives. It is an acceptance that takes us where we are, cleanses the filth that has oozed into every pore of our being, and declares us righteous before His perfect holiness. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. This is what he wanted to do and it gave him great pleasure. Then, from his glorious, unlimited resources he empowers us with inner strength through his Spirit. He makes his home in our hearts as we trust in him. Our roots are enabled to grow down into his love and make us strong. And we begin to understand the love of our God, though it is too great to fully understand, and we will begin to be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from him.
I think of the women in the New Testament whose lives were transformed by God. Women with questionable lifestyles. Defeated women. Women plagued by sin, by demons, by their own culture. Women who thought they were nothing – discarded property that had no value. Women with whom Jesus broke prejudice and tradition, accepted them where they were at, loved them, encouraged them, poured out His grace – and transformed their lives! Jesus does no less today when we come to Him with our brokenness and meet His acceptance. Precious, precious sister in Christ, know too that what He has begun, He will finish. From your ashes, and from mine, beauty will rise to reflect His love and His grace to still others.
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