Shattered but Radiant: God’s Glory Through Our Imperfections

Finding Light in Our Brokenness: Trusting God to Shine

Cracks in a vase aren’t something we celebrate. We hide them, fill them, or toss the vase altogether in shame or frustration. Yet, God invites us to look at our brokenness differently. What if those very cracks in your life—the moments of pain, failure, and inadequacy—are not meant to be hidden or fixed by your own hands but surrendered to Him? What if those cracks are the spaces where His light can shine the brightest?

The image was generated with the assistance of OpenAI's DALL·E model.

I imagined this image of a cracked vase in a dark room. Light pours from within, shining brilliantly through the fractures. The cracks, far from being flaws, become the vessel’s most striking feature. The light exposes what’s hidden, warms the room, and brings life and healing. That image beautifully symbolizes what this post is all about: In our brokenness, God’s light shines through, illuminating the darkness around us.

Take a moment to reflect: What cracks in your life have you been trying to fill or hide on your own? What might happen if, instead of striving to fix them, you allowed God’s light to shine through them?

The Futility of Self-Mending

We all have our favorite ways of trying to fill the gaps in our lives. Some seek validation through relationships, expecting others to fix what’s broken. Perhaps you’ve leaned too heavily on a spouse, a parent, or a friend, hoping their affirmation would make you whole. Others pour their energy into career success, believing that accolades or financial security will make the emptiness disappear.

Still, others might escape into distractions—social media, entertainment, or even ministry itself—anything to avoid confronting the cracks. And when those don’t work, the temptation grows to twist God’s Word, bending Scripture to fit the longings of our hearts rather than submitting our hearts to the truth of His Word.

This is where the psychology of cognitive dissonance comes into play. When our actions or beliefs don’t align with God’s truth, we justify ourselves to ease the discomfort. It might sound like this:

• "God wants me to be happy, so this compromise must be okay."

• "If I’m helping others, God must be pleased, even if I’m burning myself out."

• "Scripture is open to interpretation; maybe this part doesn’t apply to me."

But justification often leads us further from God’s intended path. A common way we justify ourselves is by taking Scripture out of context, using isolated verses to validate choices or beliefs that contradict God’s consistent character. Without careful study, we risk misunderstanding His intent and reshaping His truth to suit our preferences.

Bible scholars emphasize the importance of hermeneutics, the method of interpreting Scripture by seeking its original context and ensuring its meaning aligns with the entirety of God’s Word. This approach safeguards us from creating a God made in our own image or using His Word to justify what He never intended.

Reflect on this: Have you ever bent Scripture to fit your narrative? What would change if you instead sought to align your heart with God’s unchanging Word? God is consistent—He is who He was, is, and is to come. His character does not change, and neither does His Word. To avoid misinterpreting Scripture, we must approach it with humility, seeking to understand its original meaning and how it fits into the overarching narrative of His unchanging nature.

God’s Power Perfected in Weakness

In 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, Paul offers a life-changing perspective:

"But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

Instead of covering up his weaknesses, Paul embraces them because they showcase God’s power. This is the paradox of surrender: when we stop relying on our own strength, we make room for God’s grace to work in us and through us.

Think about the cracks in your own life. What would happen if you stopped hiding them and instead asked God to shine His light through them? Just as light transforms a cracked vase into something beautiful, your brokenness, surrendered to God, becomes a testimony of His power and sufficiency.

Trusting God’s Higher Way

The wisdom of the world tells us to lean on our own understanding, but God calls us to a different path. Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us:

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."

Trusting God means letting go of our need to control, fix, or justify ourselves. It means reading and obeying His Word, even when it challenges us or convicts us. His ways are higher, His plans are better, and His promises are sure.

How can we grow in this trust? One of the most powerful ways is by immersing ourselves in Scripture. As the new year approaches, consider committing to reading the entire Bible. A free resource like The Bible Recap by Tara-Leigh Cobble can guide you day by day, helping you see God’s redemptive story and His steadfast faithfulness in every page.

Ask yourself: What would trusting God look like in this season of your life? How can you make time to immerse yourself in His Word?

The Beauty of Surrender

As we return to the image of the cracked vase, consider where you started: What cracks in your life have you been trying to fill with your own efforts? What burdens are you carrying that God is inviting you to surrender?

Surrendering our brokenness to God is not about giving up; it’s about giving in—to His sovereignty, His love, His wisdom, and His grace. It’s about allowing Him to fill the cracks with His light so that His beauty shines through us.

This new year, as you reflect on your life and make plans for what’s ahead, don’t focus on patching yourself up with temporary fixes. Instead, bring your brokenness to the One who makes all things new. Trust Him with your cracks. Let His Word guide you, His Spirit sustain you, and His light shine through you.

Let this be the year you see the cracks in your life as opportunities for His light to shine. Trust Him to transform your brokenness into a testimony of His grace and sufficiency, and allow His love to radiate through every fracture, illuminating the path ahead for you and those around you.

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