The ancient Japanese art of putting broken pieces back together with gold or another precious metal is called kintsugi. It is taking something that is broken or flawed and making it even stronger, once again useful, and, in a way, even more beautiful. It is amazing, gorgeous artwork!

The first time I ever heard about this and saw a picture of the finished product I felt like yelling out, "Yes!" Living with chronic pain for most of my adult life has often left me feeling very cracked and broken. But that doesn’t mean that I can’t be useful and beautiful.

God is not surprised by my brokenness. After all, he made me! And whether he uses me for noble purposes or for common use as this verse suggests, the point is, he can and will use me — cracks and all — to shine the love of Jesus into a broken and hurting world.

How about you? Do you feel like you too are a cracked pot? Remember kintsugi, which is the art of making something beautiful out of the broken pieces. God wants to do exactly that!

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you that you made me just the way I am. You are the potter and I am the clay. Use me, Lord, and help me to remember that you want to shine through my cracks. Help me not to use my brokenness as an excuse not to be impacting the world around me. Amen.

Go Deeper — Thank God today for your cracks and your brokenness. Ask him to show you how he can shine through your cracks.



Tags: Daily Devotional Romans 9
Photo Credit: Chutter Snap