Be Made Complete

2 Corinthians 13:11

"Rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; 

and the God of love and peace will be with you."

I love the gathering of friends and passing of plates and telling of stories. The fullness of it all. Thunderous laughter. Napkins mounded on the washing machine as desserts are laid out. Women whirring about the kitchen. Good food, excellent friends. Our bible study kick off was over a month ago, and I'm already looking forward to our Fall together.

You know our little carafes? Mine broke today.
Because there are boys. 

There are boys who find sticks and wire on throwing knives to make them into spears. Boys who throw paddles and balls and darts at one another, and wrestle on the floor in fits of pain and laughter.  Boys who have no use for convention--Why shower when there's a creek, why brush our teeth when we're just gonna eat candy anyway?

In this case, boys who sweetly carried in my groceries for me and knocked over the little carafe. Tender, sorrowful eyes, "No big deal!" Actually, it sort of blessed me. My prayer was but a whisper ... I am this carafe, Lord.  Ragged edges.  Rough, sharp points. Broken. Jesus, make me whole. 

Ever feel that way? Like God can't fill you because you're broken? A beautiful vessel one minute and in sharp, broken pieces the next. Perhaps not broken--but you're worn thin, ragged and fragile? Like I-don't-want-to-get-out-of-bed-and-is-When-Harry-Met-Sally-on-TV-and-I-think-I'll-just-stay-in-my-jammies-and-eat-ice-cream-but-thank-you-anyway broken? 

Take heart.
Because there is a God.

There is a God who restores.  He puts the pieces back together again, this God of ours.  He knows there are bumps in life.  That hearts get broken.  Health fails. Kids disappoint. Stress rises. Dreams disappear. The enemy attacks. 

Life is hard. 

Emotionally we can wear thin and splinter apart. But God makes us whole again.  In today's verse He tells us to, "Rejoice, be made complete..." In Greek, it translates, I fit together; I'm mended, equipped, perfected, prepared, restored. 

We worship the Living God who perpetually puts us back together again--who mends us so that we fit together--in Him.  We abide in Him, and He abides in us (1 John 4:13). In Him, we are utterly whole. Amazing grace!

This is our truth--regardless of our brokenness, our circumstances, our fears, our sins, our fractured spirits. We are made perfectly whole. Again and again. Let's stand on each powerful truth:

I fit together.

I am mended.

I am equipped.

I am perfected.

I am prepared.

I am restored.

I am . . . also wondering how When Harry Met Sally is 25 years old? 

Dearest friend, the God of love and peace is with us. Let's bring our brokenness to our Restorer Redeemer and rest in fitting together with Him. Indeed, great cause for rejoicing!