His Peace for Your Pieces

Yesterday was "one of those days". It was stressful and tiring; combined with the fact that it had been five months since Melissa Coy went home to heaven. The grief can't help but feel heavier on those monthly markers and I posted a short poem to help the grief escape.

To top it all off, something ironic (and maybe even prophetic) happened as I was leaving the office. I happened to notice something lying on the ground. When I knelt down for a closer look, I realized it was part of one of my favorite necklaces. Feeling about as shattered as those beads, I picked up all the pieces I could find; wondering when and how it had fallen off of my neck without me noticing it. I should have known better than to attempt to wear it. I had had some other instances of it coming off due to a worn out clasp. Now, the cheap two dollar vacation souvenir (the one my Aunt Linda had once fixed for me the first time it got broken), had broken again. An auxiliary lady, who was talking to me outside, suggested that it could probably be remade. I told her I didn't think it was likely, but that regardless if it got remade (or made into something completely different), I would still have the memories with me that couldn't be broken. 

I couldn't help but think about how horribly fitting it was for the day. After gathering the pieces, I went to pick up my son. He also had had a day and was telling me his woes. I told him that no matter how broken and shattered we feel, God meets us in our pain. He is there to heal and renew us. It's never the same as it was before, but whatever comes of the remade or brand new thing is all for a very good purpose (Romans 8:28).  

I think 2025 has been a pretty hard year. There has been a lot of tragedies and losses; everything from the personal and local/community losses to more widely known ones like the hurricanes. I've seen a lot of heartache in my feed this year. Maybe it always seems that way, as one stops to reflect back on the past year, or maybe it really has been a bit heavier. I'm sure it's not just me.

I guess I'm just still trying to "abide" and stay anchored in His love. I've needed that word; because who wants to abide (remain, stay) in the hard stuff? Enduring and weathering out the storm can only be accomplished through Christ (John 15:5, Philippians 4:13). I am SO GLAD that I have Jesus! His faithfulness and comfort is EVERYTHING! Every time I get into 1985 mode, I go to Him instead of that time machine. I tell Him what hurts, surrendering the emotions and brokenness, and I receive His presence and peace in the midst of the pain. Thanking, worshiping, and remembering who He is has been a vital key to emptying the grief from my heart (Philippians 4:6-7).

I don't know what brokenness you've been through this year. I don't know what has shattered you and left you picking up the pieces. But, I think the broken necklace illustrates some important things. First, we have to realize something is broken. Many times, we ignore warning signs (like I did with the faulty clasp). We not only fail in the preventative part, but sometimes we are in denial when things finally do breakdown. We are unaware and we don't see it; or sometimes we do see it and don't do anything about it. Secondly, once we do face it, we don't know how to deal with it. Do we pick up the pieces, discard it, and move on? Do we hold onto it; refusing to let go? Or, do we do a bit of both? It doesn't have to be "all or nothing." The one thing that is certain is that it happened and history cannot be changed. There is no "undo" button.

God has a bigger plan in mind for those broken pieces. He can and will redeem anything (and already did through Christ on the cross)! It won't look like what it did before, but it can look like something that honors and preserves the beautiful part of what was lost while still creating something new. Again, think about how the New Covenant didn't destroy the Old Covenant, but fulfilled it (Matthew 5:17). My necklace was destroyed, but its memories and purpose was not. If it hadn't broken again, I wouldn't be writing this blog right now. In that regard, I'm almost glad that it broke. I can also see possibilities for how it "might" be remade or repurposed (if I ever get around to it). Though, if all that ever comes of it is being another one of my unfinished ideas/projects, it's ok. I'm at peace with the journey that this cheap souvenir has been on. I've had it for probably close to 20 years...it really did have a good run and truly served a greater purpose than I ever would have thought when I got it in that little shop in Tennessee all those years ago.

Grace and peace to you, my friends! I pray that you'll trust Jesus with whatever pieces you need to put into His hands. Let go and forgive yourself of any shame or blame. Whether you could have prevented it or not doesn't matter now. What matters is the healing and restoration He wants to give you. Confess and surrender it all. Forgive yourself; and anyone else that may be involved. Invite God into your mess. He is near to you (Psalm 34:18). Ask Him to show you how He wants to heal and restore you for His glory. He'll give you His peace for your pieces! What better time for healing than Christmastime. Peace on Earth and peace in your heart! God bless you!