Broke my favorite coffee cup on the front porch tile this morning. Dropped it as I was sitting down in the swing. Had the cup for years, always holding pens and pencils on my desk, but it was so pretty I decided to use it for what it was intended for, to hold my hot morning, while I sit and ponder and watch the birds. Made a mess on the porch, the cup broke in too many pieces to glue it back together. I’ve enjoyed drinking my morning coffee from its prettiness but no more.

Picking up the cup’s pieces got me to thinking about how God heals us when we’re hurt and broken, gluing us back together with his comfort and love, his grace making us feel whole again, ready to walk back into life in the real world. Psalm 147:3 reads, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Connecting with God’s words through our prayers starts the healing process when we’re broken. “He is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit,” Psalm 34:18.

It’s so sad to be “crushed in spirit.” I felt that way when Rosalyn died. I searched for things to blame her accident on, asked God why he was punishing me, why didn’t he save her. But slowly through my prayers and Chief’s undying faith and love, I realized it was just an accident. She ran off the road, the car flipped three times, a fence post came through the windshield, striking her in the chest, killing her instantly. Our beautiful daughter was gone.

Through my prayers and faithfulness I let God slowly comfort me, gluing my spirit back together, restoring my faith. I could not have weathered the frightening storm of her death if I didn’t have God to console me with his promise to be reunited with her in heaven. Faith is a powerful comforter. I know from personal experience how God can heal deep sorrow. Jeremiah 17:14 reads, “Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.”

In the New Testament people had so much faith in Jesus just to touch the hem of his robe brought them healing and comfort. Jesus healed the ones who needed him through his touch, his love, his prayers. “Lord my God, I called to You for help, and You healed me,” Psalm 30:2. Sometimes when we sink down in the darkness of sorrow we feel we’ll never see the light of day or enjoy the warmth of God’s sunshine on our face again. But God is right there with us waiting for us reach out and grasp his hand of hope. “At the end of the day, all you need is hope and strength. Hope that it will get better and strength to hold on until it does,” Unknown.

When we’re crushed in spirit and broken in pieces, sorrowful and depressed, God can heal us. God will give us hope and strength through our prayers. In the Bible, Psalm 34:18 says, “The Lord is near to the broken-hearted, and saves the crushed in spirit.” When you’ve given up, God can give you hope and promise of better days. His grace and faithfulness will bind us back together, bringing his light and his eternal love back into our lives. Our scars of brokenness will heal, making us stronger. We’ll stand tall again with God’s support. John 17:18 says, “Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. Telling people about Jesus and how he has transformed you, saved you, and renewed your life is witnessing and is obedience to Him.”

God understands the trials and tribulations of our every day lives. He knows the path our lives will travel and stands close to guide us over the rough spots. Matthew 11:28 says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” God wants to comfort us and heal our brokenness. Together with God we can renew the faith of those who are suffering in darkness, letting them know we have travelled their path, survived, and walked back into the sunshine. We can offer hope to those who are without God’s love through our prayers and our witness of God’s healing power.

“Man is born broken. He lives by mending. The grace of God is glue.” Eugene O’Neill