When my dad passed away, I received a cross that had belonged to him. This special cross is more than a representation of Christ’s sacrifice for me; it’s a reminder of my earthly father and my love for him.

A few years ago, in the middle of the night, I heard a huge bang that was loud enough to wake me. The next morning, I found my dad’s cross on the floor, broken into a million pieces. I immediately fell to my knees in tears. Just then, my husband walked in the room as I was gathering each small piece to place in a plastic bag. Howard knew how much the cross meant to me, so he understood why I was grieved. But no matter how much I cried or wanted to put the pieces back together, I couldn't!

When I think about my dad’s shattered cross, I think about the times I have felt broken. During those times, no matter how I tried, I couldn't put the pieces of my life back together. Instead, I had to ask my Savior to take the pieces and make something beautiful from them. Only then did I find His peace.

There’s a difference between suffering and brokenness. I may suffer because of something that has happened to me, but brokenness is something I experience within me. When I come to God broken, He is able to take the pieces of my life and make them into something beautiful. God can take ashes and turn them into something amazing. He can use hurts, disappointments, and shame to create a story that will bring Him glory. God is able to take a broken life and restore it to a life of purpose.

After my dad’s cross was shattered, a sweet lady visited me to help decorate for Christmas. During our time together she said, “My son loves to take broken things to try to restore them to their original state. Let me take the pieces and give them to him.” I secretly thought, "There is no way her son can restore my dad’s antique plaster cross," but I gave her the bag of broken pieces. When she returned the cross, I was amazed at the restoration!

Every day when I sit under the cross in my study, I’m reminded of another Son who took the broken pieces of my life and made me beautiful in His time. If you look closely at my dad’s cross, you are able to see where the pieces were put back together. And, if you look closely at me, you may see where Jesus restored the broken pieces of my life to make something beautiful.

Are you willing to recognize the brokenness in your life and give it to Jesus? He is able to make your life into something beautiful, too.

This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: “Go down to the potter’s house, and there I will give you my message.” So I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the wheel. But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. Jeremiah 18:1-4 (NIV)