When We Are Falling Apart, Jesus Holds Us Together

“In Him all things are held together”
 (Colossians 1:17).

We all know the phrase, “falling apart at the seams” – those moments when life seems too overwhelming and we don’t know how we will survive.

We may feel that way for many reasons.  Our pain and suffering is enough to face, but other difficulties in our lives or those we love bring added pressures.  The world in general is in chaos as well, and it may seem that everywhere we turn things are falling apart.

I am experiencing that now.  My father was just diagnosed with terminal cancer.  Praise God he knows the Lord and has had a full life, but that doesn’t remove the pain and suffering we must watch him endure now. 

With my own health problems I can’t be as much of a help to my mother as I would like.  Many people are praying and we are seeing signs of that in the way things have logistically fallen into place as well as what I have been able to do physically, but there are moments when I feel I’m falling apart.

A friend of mine posted this picture on Facebook of this cracked ceramic bowl pieced together with gold filling.  Underneath the photo was the word “kintsukuroi”, meaning to repair pottery with gold or silver lacquer, understanding that the piece is more beautiful having been broken.

I thought about our bodies being jars of clay and trials being the fire that God uses to burn away all that is not of Him, leaving only the pure gold of faith in Him.  No matter what chaos is going on in and around us, there is no moment when Christ is not holding it all together.  The golden faith and strength that comes as a result of our trials is one means He uses to do this, and with each line of gold filling we are becoming more beautiful to Him.

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, thank you that You are continually holding the greatness of the universe as well as the smallness of my own world together.  Thank you for piecing me together when I fall apart, and may I allow my brokenness to be the very thing You use to strengthen and beautify me.  Amen.