You’re Not Too Broken

“We did everything we could to fix this. Why didn’t it work? This is a disaster!”

This could likely have been the conversation occurring when the Liberty Bell suddenly stopped ringing during commemoration of George Washington’s birthday in 1846. The bell, originally commissioned by the Pennsylvania legislature to announce meetings, had successfully rung in years past, but it developed a crack and had to be recast twice (2, 3).

Artisans John Pass and John Stow repaired the bell and reinforced it to make it more durable. Nevertheless, upon ringing out at the birthday celebration, it cracked even further and the damage was deemed irreparable. The Liberty Bell would never ring again. This glorious symbol of liberty for the United States of America was silenced (1).

One would think that would be the end of the story. If a bell can’t be rung, what good is it? What possible use could it have if it couldn’t fulfill the purpose for which it was created? But the Liberty Bell actually became more valuable after the crack that silenced its ring. Oh, the crack may have stopped it from ringing, but it propelled it to become one of the most recognized and cherished symbols of freedom that sparked movements across the country. Today, it is an iconic image of democracy and resilience that’s recognized worldwide (1, 2). Perhaps that bell had another purpose than first intended…a greater purpose.

God Works Through Broken People

We tend to equate value with perfection: existence without any flaws or blemishes. We tend to throw away things that are ripped, nicked, or damaged. But God doesn’t think that way. God works through imperfect, flawed, and damaged people for His purpose. Oftentimes we can serve God in a greater capacity, not in spite of but because of what we’ve been through. That tough situation, that loss, that stronghold, that broken road that’s left us bruised and battered can become the very thing through which God uses us for His glory.

The Woman at the Well

There are so many examples in Scripture of God working through broken people. One that comes to mind is the woman at the well. Not only was she shunned as a societal castaway due to multiple marriages (she’d had five husbands and was also living with another man), but she was also a Samaritan, a people group that the Jews despised. Yet Scripture indicates that Jesus had to go through Samaria, referencing the path that He and the disciples would travel. He went there just to meet this woman. He met her in her brokenness, showed compassion and love, redeemed her, and revealed Himself for the first time ever as the Messiah. Her response? She became the first evangelist. “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” (John 4:29). This woman, who had very little value according to the standards of her day, became more valuable spiritually than she ever thought possible. Her testimony led many Samaritans to believe in Jesus as the Messiah (John 4:39). Her difficult past did not define her. God gave her a greater purpose!

There’s Beauty in Brokenness

Sometimes, we overlook the beauty in our brokenness. When everything lies shattered on the ground, it’s hard to see anything good. But God specializes in turning broken pieces into masterpieces, offering us restoration and strength in our weakest moments. Though brokenness can feel like the end, it is often the beginning of a deeper walk with God. As we sit in His presence and draw near to God, He draws near to us (James 4:8).

Perhaps the crafters of the Liberty Bell looked at its jagged pieces and wondered how something so broken could ever be useful again. But look at what is has become: an iconic American symbol of pride and patriotism that is still being written about hundreds of years after it was silenced (1, 2, 3). It may have been quieted, but the message it conveys speaks louder than ever.

The Message of the Liberty Bell

There is an inscription on the Liberty Bell (1, 2). It’s Leviticus 25:10:

“And you shall consecrate the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you, when each of you shall return to his property and each of you shall return to his clan.”

Proclaiming liberty throughout all the land to all its inhabitants? That’s exactly what the woman at the well did. She told everyone she could that Jesus was the Messiah. She rang out this truth! She proclaimed the liberty she had found in Christ to all the land. After meeting Jesus, she returned to her “clan” renewed and with a higher calling than ever before.

Friend, you have this very opportunity as well! Despite your flaws, cracks, blemishes, and scars, God can and will use you in more valuable ways than you ever expected. Surrender it all to God and come away renewed and ready for the Creator to work a wonderful purpose through you.

References:

(1) Liberty Bell – The Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia (philadelphiaencyclopedia.org)

(2) The Liberty Bell (USHistory.org)

(3) Liberty Bell: Definition, Facts, History, Quiz & Trivia – Workybooks (www.workybooks.com)