Broken {Five Minute Friday}

I'm joining in for the first time with Five Minute Friday, hopefully I can stick to the rules and not get caught blathering on about inconsequential stuff!!

Here goes!

This week's theme is 'broken'

Not too long ago, someone dropped this thought on me: "sometimes God has to break things in you to allow space for new life to emerge.". Immediately my mind jumped to negative things: pride, stubbornness, arrogance, issues of sin etc pbut what happens when God breaks something seemingly good?

18 months ago my husband and I were ticking along quite nicely, thank you very much, when a rapid chain of events caused our happy little bubble to come tumbling down around our ears. Friendships were severed, trusts were broken, life got lonely and confusing, we felt abandoned by those who were meant to be helping and guiding us. We retreated away to lick our wounds and wonder what on earth we had done to cause this awful, unexpected thing to occur. Sadly, we've been walking through the backlash of that ever since.

Just recently however, we've begun to experience change, a new sense of hope has started to emerge. It isn't a case of the things which were broken being repaired, unfortunately life isn't always as simple as that (if ever!) but we have seen new growth within ourselves. Stepping out of the battlefield we've lived in for over a year and into something infinitely better. And it's exciting!

We are trusting God that He broke something to make it better. Perhaps we couldn't see there was anything wrong but God, who ultimately wants the very best for us, could see. We are walking with a new sense of freedom and purpose and it's amazing!

We have learned so much about holding onto the promises of God. That even when your valley seems long and wide, your situation hopeless; that God is still your resting place and your stronghold.

At the time it seemed irrational and unfair and I'm sure we'll carry the marks of the events for some time but (as I'm learning more and more) God is working for something much bigger than we can imagine and if being a part of that means occasionally things have to get broken then I'm open and willing to trust in my amazing God.

"...and we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose" Romans 8 v 28