If you ask a doctor if your broken arm (simple and clean break) will ever heal up again, they will often tell you that if well trained that arm actually has the potential to become stronger than the other one. Likewise, if we think about an athlete in training, he or she is constantly breaking down their body in order to grow stronger. The physiology simplified goes something like this:
Anaerobic exercise like weight lifting or splinting causes damage to muscle fibers (myofibrils). After being damaged (inflamed, broken, worn down) the body begins to repair damage by bringing white blood cells to the scene, cytokines, and satellite cells. After 48 hours of rest- muscle growth or hypertrophy can occur because of an increase in the volume of myofibrils.
So even physiologically, brokenness and tiredness can actually induce gains. But even more so mentally, I believe brokenness, losses, or challenges give us the opportunity to overcome or heal which can in return make us more compassionate, strong, and "durable" than before. More important than mental strength though, honestly, is the opportunity to know God better.
When we look at the ultimate example of life in Jesus Christ- we also see the ultimate example of suffering. It is to be expected that we Christians will all have struggles and brokenness too. That we would want to carry some burdens to the cross with Jesus. That we would embrace our challenges and pain as an opportunity to experience what Jesus felt and to get closer to his soft, kind spirit. Psalm 34:18 says "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit."
And yet so often as a a spoiled "American girl" with a job and too many clothes, I complain about things in life that are hard. I complain about the challenges and pain instead of counting it as joy. I forget that the things that are difficult are also the opportunities to draw near to the heart of Christ. And so often I make my life here on this earth about me, instead of remembering I was created to serve.
Brokenness and pain has so much value when we choose to let it give us new perspective, relate to others better, and teach us life lessons. In difficulty, we learn who our true friends are. In pain, we appreciate the art of healing. When we are struggling, it is a chance for us like- little babies who need so much help- to cry out to God "Save me". It gives us motivation to draw nearer to the Healer, to the Father, to the Lover.
It is so hard to be broken! So hard to be lonely, so hard to be hurting!
But friends, you are not the only one suffering or being challenged in an area of your life. Look around, everyone is fighting a battle. Married or unmarried or divorced, sick or healthy, rich or poor- we are all broken sinful creatures and because of our poor choices we daily experience painful consequences of sin.
And we can own up to the fact that life is hard and that it's going to hurt sometimes-- but we can get through it and even use it as gains to know Jesus better.
Or we can cry about it, we can beg other people to help us. We can be selfish and choose to focus on ourselves instead of others. And when we focus on ourselves, our problem is amplified.
This is so hard. It's so hard to accept that maybe God's plan is not the plan you had in mind. Maybe God has something different on His heart for you then what you hoped. But friends, go back to Him. Even though you have rejected him, run back to him. For He constantly reminds us "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ then I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak then He is strong." 2 Corinthians 12:10
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