Growth in the broken places

It had been a long week, and it was only Wednesday. Stress at work from a complicated project, stressful commutes back and forth to work and the mounding lists of tasks to get done at home had me burnt beyond even my own understanding. After walking in the side door of the house and greeting my wife with a kiss I felt the need to work outside and grind out some frustrations on lingering unfinished projects around the property.
The brush and scrubby little trees growing around the giant oak we affectionately call “The Old Man” needed to be cut down and hauled away for chipping. After about thirty minutes with a chainsaw and twenty minutes of dragging small trees to the pile I plopped down in the grass. Quiet time hadn’t been a priority in weeks, and it was catching up. Time in the bible had been sparse and podcasts had drifted from daily scripture readings to talk shows about nothing. I had gotten lazy and now my soul was starved and malnourished for God’s word. With a frustrated and anxious spirit, I leaned back and stared up at the ancient tree.
“God why am I such a mess? Why do I struggle the way I do? I have so many regrets from my past, so many mistakes. I hate my stupid, selfish temper and my laziness, and my negative attitude. Lord, speak to me, please, I need to hear you.”
My face felt warm. I could feel that tightness, that feeling when I know I’m at the edge of tears. And God spoke….
Looking up into the tree I could see the massive limbs, some as big around as the trees growing all around the Old Man. I counted six or seven limbs that had been broken off over the many decades the tree had been standing here. From those limbs grew more limbs, off shoots growing six or seven feet tall, maybe taller.
“These limbs were broken, but there is growth in the broken places my son. They give life and provide important nutrients so that other limbs can grow and provide an opportunity for more growth. This is why I let things happen, so you can grow, so you can share, so you can multiply. You are my son and I love you.”
Galatians 6:9 says ”Let’s not become discouraged in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not become weary. We are all broken, a hot mess, sinful. We fail, stumble, take our eyes off the one who gives us life and sets us free. But we can always come back. In Deuteronomy 31:8 God says “It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”
So, loved ones, don’t be discouraged. Get up, keep moving. Make time with God a priority. We are all broken. But there’s growth in the broken places