Pastoral Message by Matriarch Elnette Edwards
Beloved ones,
Brokenness is not something we seek, yet it’s often the very place where God does His deepest work. When life shatters our plans, crushes our pride, and strips away what we thought defined us—that’s when we’re most open to transformation. Brokenness is painful, but it’s also sacred.
The Bible uses the image of a broken alabaster jar—when Mary broke the jar of expensive perfume and poured it on Jesus, the fragrance filled the entire house. Her brokenness released something beautiful. So it is with us—when we’re broken before God, something fragrant is released that blesses others and brings glory to Him.
I’ve experienced brokenness multiple times. Each time felt devastating in the moment. My carefully constructed plans crumbled. My self-sufficiency proved insufficient. My strengths revealed themselves as weaknesses. My pride was humbled. I felt like a failure. But looking back, I see that those broken places became the birthplace of my greatest growth and deepest intimacy with God.
Brokenness strips away pretense. When we’re whole and successful, we can maintain facades. But when we’re broken, we can’t pretend anymore. We’re forced to be real with God, ourselves, and others. This honesty, though painful, is healing. We can’t be transformed by hiding—only by bringing our true selves into the light.
God is drawn to the broken. The psalmist says He’s close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. He doesn’t despise a broken and contrite heart. While the world celebrates strength and success, God treasures humble hearts that acknowledge their need for Him. Brokenness positions us to receive what pride would reject.
I’ve also learned that brokenness isn’t the end—it’s the beginning. What feels like death is often the precursor to resurrection. What looks like destruction is often God clearing ground for new growth. What seems like failure is often preparation for greater effectiveness. God wastes nothing, including our brokenness.
But we must respond rightly to brokenness. Some people become bitter when broken, blaming God or others and hardening their hearts. Others become better—softer, humbler, more compassionate, more dependent on God. The difference isn’t the breaking but the response to it.
Brokenness also creates capacity for ministry. The wounds that heal become the very places from which we minister to others. Our brokenness gives us credibility, compassion, and understanding that those who’ve never been broken can’t possess. God redeems our pain by using it to heal others.
The image of the potter reshaping broken clay is powerful. When a vessel is marred, the potter doesn’t discard it—he remakes it into something new. God is the ultimate potter. When we’re broken, He doesn’t throw us away—He remakes us. The new vessel may look different than the original, but it’s often more beautiful and certainly more useful.
If you’re in a place of brokenness today, know that you’re not forgotten, you’re not finished, and you’re not beyond repair. Surrender your broken pieces to the Potter. Let Him remake you. Trust that this season of brokenness is preparing you for something beautiful. Your brokenness before God is the beginning of your breakthrough. Don’t waste it by resisting it. Embrace it, learn from it, and watch what God does with your surrendered, broken heart.
Beautifully broken,
Matriarch Elnette Edwards
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