Under Construction

Sorry for the Inconvenience

Imagine a time when you were so excited and ready to bring a friend to this restaurant only to be greeted by a sign that says, “We are currently under renovation. Sorry for the inconvenience.” 

What would be your initial reaction?

Frustrated?

Disappointed?

Sad?

We all know that reconstruction doesn’t just happen with restaurants but also with roads, comfort rooms, escalators, elevators, and even…

people.

Don’t people go through (a lot of) fixing, too?

Isn’t there a time in people’s lives when they would experience a rough, difficult, and messy process because they were under repair?

When all you wanted was to tell someone how awesome your day went…

When all you wanted was to hear that person’s voice…

When all you wanted was to enjoy that person’s company…

Yet all you were greeted by was a sign that says,

“I’m not okay at the moment. I’m sorry for the inconvenience.”

What would be your initial reaction?

Would you stay away or stay beside?

Would you be concerned or be inconvenienced?

Fragile, Handle With Care

There are people who have a hard time opening up to others, even to their closest of friends and loved ones, because they don’t want them to worry. They don’t want to cause a disturbance to their friends and family’s already busy lives. They could also be afraid of prejudice or condemnation, even avoidance or rejection, once they share a little bit of their not-so-exciting stories. When they’re not their usual happy selves, they struggle between asking for help or apologizing for not being strong enough.

When someone is battling cancer or depression, when someone is going through a tragic loss or trauma, when someone is having trust issues or an ordinary dark day, I hope that he or she never has to apologize for it. It wasn’t their fault that they are sick or broken. I’m pretty sure that they didn’t want to be that way to begin with.

I hope that people never have to apologize for being broken.

Unlike roads and buildings, human beings are worth so much more. They don’t exist to just help us with our studies, or to give us advice when we need one. They don’t exist just to be our sounding board when we rant about life’s inconveniences or an ATM machine when our pockets go empty. I hope that we don’t just go to people for what they can offer us. I hope that the ultimate motives why we build relationships with them are simply because of who they are and simply because of love.

I hope we build relationships with them simply because of who they are and simply because of love.

Broken people need neither judgment nor a sermon as to what you think caused them to be that way or what they have to do to get out of it. These people need help. These people need a friend. These people need love. But just like sites under renovation, people trying to conceal their state may not look cluttered on the outside because of their walls, but they are totally wrecked within.

Which is why, it might take more effort from you to reach out to them. It might consume more of your time to listen to them. It might feel like it’s a heavy task for you given that you are facing challenges of your own…

But aren’t we commanded to bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2)?

These people need no judgment. They need help. They need love. Aren’t we commanded to bear one another’s burdens?

Bearing one another’s burdens doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to feel what the other person is feeling exactly or that you have to totally understand their situation because more often than not, you can’t. Most of the time, your presence and your prayers already ease the weight that they are carrying. I hope we can create a safe environment for people to unload their burdens to. I hope we could spare some time to listen even in their stillness. 

Is there someone you know who you can be a friend to today?

Expose Your Brokenness

There could also be an underlying reason why people keep their problems  to themselves. Underneath the refusal to cause more trouble is the pride of not wanting others see them in a helpless scenario. The idea of others seeing them weak attacks their ego.

“They can’t see me like this.”

If this is you right now, I want to ask you some questions.

How much longer can you pretend that everything is going perfectly well with you?

How much longer are you going to wear the mask that feigns strength when deep within you’re badly hurting?

How much longer?

It’s okay.

Talking to someone about your problems won’t kill you. It is usually silence that does.

A wound will not heal if it is left unexposed.

Who do you need to talk to today?

The Master Fixer

Dear reader, whether you know someone who is going through a tough time or you’re it, I want you to know that you are not alone in this.

I have great news for you.

2000 years ago, the battle against brokenness has already been won for you.

Before you even came into existence, before you even experienced the cruelty and brokenness in this world, before you even decided to shut yourself in and keep all the pain to yourself…

Someone took your brokenness — caused by sin — nailed it to the cross, and buried it in the tomb forever.

2000 years ago, the battle against brokenness has already been won for you on the cross.

It didn’t end there. Three days later, hope and healing and grace and love came alive.

Jesus.

He bore your sin, your shame, and your suffering that you may be rescued, redeemed and restored for all eternity.

He didn’t promise a trouble-free life here on earth but He did promise that He will always be with us — even in the middle of our mess, even in the middle of our pain.

Jesus bore your sin, your shame, and your suffering that you may be rescued, redeemed and restored for all eternity.

So while our glorified bodies and problem-free lives still await us in heaven, you can call on Jesus now. You can come to Him and let Him in your life and let Him renovate, transform, and resurrect your broken heart.

Jesus bore the burden that we can never bear — the burden of sin, of eternal separation from the Father. He took that burden off your shoulders. What else could ever be too hard for Him to handle? Jesus is asking you to come to Him now, you who are weary and burdened. Go on and let Him grant you rest. Let Him teach you — for His yoke is easy and His burden is light (Matthew 11:28).

Let Him work in you from the inside out.

It may take some time. It may take some dirty and painful work but isn’t that what repairs and renovations are for?

To make something beautiful again and even more…

It may take some time. It may take some dirty and painful work but isn’t that what repairs and renovations are for?

Through Jesus’ death on the cross and resurrection, you and I can be freely undone before Him, with our masks and gloves off — the very things we use to hide our wounds and scars.

Through Jesus, we who were once broken and dead in sin can comfort and minister to those who haven’t experienced His wholeness yet.

Hear this, love, broken is where God begins and beauty is where He ends.

So I pray that you stay, and I pray that you wait,

something beautiful is on its way.

Broken is where God begins and beauty is where He ends.

Photo from PktFuel.com

…Rai