“We live in a broken world where broken things happen. . . . But what about those time when things aren’t just broken but shattered beyond repair? Shattered to the point of dust?”- Lysa TerKeurst
“Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.”- Genesis 2:7 (NIV)
In Chapter 2 (“Dust”) of It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way, Lysa TerKeurst discusses what happens when things are shattered to the point of dust. No pieces to pick up in front of you. Plus, you can’t glue dust. And, it’s hard to hold dust. Something very precious gets reduced to a powder easily carried away by the wind. Thus, we:
- feel desperately hopeless
- believe the promises of God no longer apply to us
- see the reach of God falling just short of where we are
- find the hope of God snuffed out by the consuming darkness surrounding us
As a result, we pray to God to fix it all, repair our heartbreaking reality. But, Ms. TerKeurst asks, what if God has something completely different in mind for us in our shattering? Perhaps, right now, God desires to make something entirely brand-new. Because, Lysa stresses, God loves to use dust. So, we choose to either see dust as (a) a result of unfair breaking or (b) a crucial ingredient.
Finally, Ms. TerKeurst notes, dust turns into clay when you mix it with water. When placed in the Potter’s hands, it can be molded into anything the Potter dreams up. The prophet Jeremiah once wrote:
“Can I not do with you, Israel, as this potter does?” declares the LORD. “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, Israel.”- Jeremiah 18:6 (NIV)
Today’s question: What Bible verses sustained and strengthened you when things in your life shattered to the point of dust? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “The most dangerous assumption of all”
