It’s Time to Pluck Your Destiny Out of the Trash

Has your destiny been tossed in a trash bin of dashed hopes? Did your dream die? Is it possible to recover what’s been lost? Yes, it is. It’s time to pluck your destiny out of the trash.

If you drop a vase on the floor and it shatters, you sweep up the pieces and throw them in the garbage. If it’s an antique your grandmother left you as part of your inheritance and you felt like it carried her story, you may grieve losing it. Or you may bury your love for it and try to move on.

GOD DOESN’T TOSS US ASIDE WHEN LIFE HAS BROKEN US

God fashioned each of us as his precious vessel, designed to carry His Presence. However, He doesn’t toss us aside when life has broken us. He painstakingly repairs our shattered souls so that we reflect His glory even more than we did before.

Perhaps you’ve heard of the Japanese technique of pottery repair called kintsugi. Masters of this technique painstakingly glue together broken ceramics and apply gold dust to the cracks. The finished pieces display more beauty than the originals.

We each have unique destinies that God designed for us. Everyone’s destiny has been broken in a different way. Some have been shattered more than others. However, when our purpose is restored, we each shine with a singular beauty.

REJECTION CAUSES PAIN

We are the desire of Father God’s heart. He loves us and fashions our hearts to love Him in return.Because He loves us, we can love others. But we have all experienced the pain of having our love rejected. When that happens, we can dread opening ourselves up to love again.

The following quote describes the fear author Sarah Geringer experienced when her dad left her.

“The fear of abandonment has haunted me all my life as a child of divorce. Even though I was only four years old at the time, I vividly remember the day my father left. I knew something was wrong when I saw him crying for the first time ever. Then I saw the suitcase in his hand. A claw of terror gripped at my throat and silenced me as he hugged me goodbye.

As he drove away, my deepest fear took hold and never let go. It has colored every relationship I’ve ever had with a male. In the back of my mind, I’m always thinking, He’s going to leave you someday.” From Transforming Your Thought Life by Sarah Geringer.

Notice that terror gripped and silenced Sarah. Trauma can shut down our feelings. It’s as if a parent, friend, or even God wrote a love letter upon our hearts, only to have that person or some event crumple that valentine and toss it in the trash.

GOD’S LOVE TRANSFORMS US

Experiencing emotional pain causes a knee-jerk reaction to avoid that heartache again. We feel safer in our isolation because of fear that love will abandon us once more. We can even shut out God, the source of love. However, only God’s love for us can remedy our broken hearts.

1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. ESV

A LOVING GOD TAKES OUR DESTINY  THROUGH A PROCESS

Every God-given destiny progresses through stages.

First, we are broken. We think we have disappointed others and failed God. There is no hope for repair. We try to dismiss our pain, or else live constantly in its shadow.

When our self-effort doesn’t work, we pluck our destiny out of the trash and acknowledge our brokenness. What was hidden away must be faced for what it is.

Next, we let go of our broken places and hand them over to Jesus. Sins, failings, and the pain that accompanies them cannot be fixed by our own efforts. We forgive ourselves and others, and we accept the forgiveness Jesus offers us.

Then we spend time with Him and meditate on His Word. We seek wise counsel and allow Him to restore our vessel.   This takes faith and courage because our trust has been broken so many times.

Finally, our vessel is repaired. We still carry the scars and memories of our brokenness, but now they are filled with gold. Not only has Jesus healed us, but He has also given us His love, wisdom, and the strength to help others.

HE LOVES YOU JUST THE WAY YOU ARE

In 1977 Billy Joel wrote the popular song, I Love You Just the Way You Are. Although Joel wrote the song for his wife, I like to listen to this song as if Jesus were singing it to me. Here are some of the lyrics that stand out:

“I don’t want clever conversation…I just want someone I can talk to; I want you just the way you are.”

Jesus likes being with you. You can be honest with Him about how you feel. Then ask Him how he feels about you.

“What will it take till you believe in Me the way that I believe in you?”

God believes in you. Go ahead and believe He created you to succeed. He doesn’t expect you to be perfect. He enjoys watching you step forward. Even if you make mistakes.

“I said I love you and that’s forever, and this I promise from the heart. I could not love you any better; I love you just the way you are.”

Imagine that you are a child sitting on Jesus’ lap. Let Him sing these lyrics to you. As you experience His love, He will repair your vessel.

Go ahead. It’s time to pluck your destiny out of the trash.