Restoration After Devastation: You May Be Hurt, But You’re Not Broken

“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”- Matthew 11:29-30

We were watching Dolphin Tale as a family the other night. For those unfamiliar with this film, it is a story of a young man (Sawyer) who rescues a dolphin on the beach in Clearwater, Florida. The dolphin loses its tail and a journey of healing and restoration begins with the boy and Winter the dolphin.

A side story that occurs is with Sawyer’s cousin, Kyle, who is injured in the military and has to go through therapy. During his time at the hospital, he becomes depressed and frustrated. He has an interaction with Dr. McCarthy, an Orthopedic Specialist played by Morgan Freeman, who helps bring Kyle out of his fog.

In this particular scene he shares these words with Kyle, “You’re hurt. You’re not broken.” Then, he grabbed a glass and dropped it on the floor and says, “That’s broken.”

I feel like this is a message many people need to hear, but far too often, it is overlooked.

For many of you reading, you have been devastated by heartache, broken relationships, loss of loved ones, etc. All seems lost when it comes to the reality you face.

In fact, for many of you, you have been in a hard place. You have felt alone. You have allowed the pain to overtake you and there seems like no way out or up from the hurt.

Where can you find restoration after being devastated in life?

First, let me reiterate what Dr. McCarthy shared, “You are hurt, but you’re not broken.” As long as you are still breathing, you still have hope. You need to look up and see the potential before you. Yes, the circumstances may seem overwhelming and consuming, but you need to know you are not broken.

Second, but this is the most important, your restoration is found in Jesus. Nothing and no one else can fill the void. Only Christ.

Your healing and hope can be found in the One who came to bring peace and reconciliation to His creation.

From a pastoral perspective, it is so hard to see people who have hard break-ups run into the arms of the first person who smiles at them. They believe that next person will heal their hurt, but then they find themselves feeling broken again. When someone loses a loved one or feels lonely, they might run to a bottle or drug to cure their emptiness. Yet, they find none of those things make them better and they continue down the spiral of feeling broken.

There are so many things people run to when they feel broken, but there should be only One thing they look to: Christ’s unending love.

The cross was the tool God used to restore His creation from the devastation of death.

Christ called His followers to take on His love and quit carrying their own load. He came to bring life and longs for His creation to know the life He gives. The feeling of brokenness is bringing death, but His message of restoration brings hope.

The feeling might be real, but it is not reality. You are hurt and that is fair. Your hurt cannot go ignored. Find help. Talk to someone about your hurt and pain.

However, don’t fall for the lie that you’re broken and cannot be restored. Life can be found in Jesus and He is waiting for you to fall into His arms and hear His words, “You are mine. You are whole in me. Your hurt is real for now, but my healing is forever.”

May you come to know you are whole in Jesus. May you remember you might be hurt for now, but Jesus’ love and healing is forever.

QUESTION: Who do you have by your side when you are feeling alone or broken?