When You Are Broken Like a Pencil

Who says a broken pencil can’t write? A pencil’s ability to function depends on the condition of the lead on the inside. If the pointy lead is broken off, or if it falls out altogether, then, said pencil’s writing career is over. However, if a pencil gets snapped in two, once the point is intact, it is still able to function as a writing tool. Though broken and disfigured, it is still equipped to function and accomplish great things through its creations.

Life doesn’t unfold through consistent cotton-candy, sunny days and funnel-cake, starry nights. The less festive days, adorned with heartache and gloom leave us broken … like a pencil. Nevertheless, because we’re broken, doesn’t mean we’re useless. We can still function in our brokenness. Inevitably, we’ll get knocked out in a round or two of life’s toughest boxing matches, but that doesn’t equal an automatic defeat. If we’re not dead, there’s always a chance for victory in the next round. With God’s help, we can get up and successfully finish the match. You will hurt. You will fail. But you’re not worthless, and you will rise again.

“We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9)

God says when we are weak, He is strong for us. We can take comfort in knowing God has our backs. He has designed us with a little bit of His DNA so that when we’re broken, we still have the ability to be productive and to overcome, by His grace and with His strength.

“And He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.’ Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

When a pencil gets broken in two, its ability increases. How?

Since it now has two ends that can be sharpened, productivity is doubled. Likewise, only good will be the end result of leaning on Christ in our broken state. We’ll become stronger and better than before.

“Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5)

“And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”
(1 Peter 5:10)

What are you facing right now that has left your broken? Can you trust God will bring good out of this?