More/God Fixes Broken Women!

God is all about fixing broken women.  I know.  He has been doing that kind of work in yours truly for some time.  He knew where I was broken and what needed fixin’ better than I did.  Through the years, He has strategically connected me with other Godly men women to bring about His healing. His Word has been an invaluable “healing balm”.  Not all of the brokenness was my doing.  I wasn’t responsible for the actions of others.  Frankly, it doesn’t matter where the brokenness comes, He will use it to mold you and I for His purposes – if we let Him. Sometimes we get stuck in our thinking that it wasn’t that bad where we came from or where we were living.  At least we knew what to feel and how to act.  But the fact remains that He has come to set us free and we don’t have to live in the bonds of our slavery any longer.  You and I get to agree with HIM about His fixin’ and when it’s all said and done it has a glorious result.

My journey of healing has been at the best times arduous and difficult.  I drew a line in the sand many years ago.  I made a promise to the Lord that the bonds that had held my family for generations would no longer hold me or my daughters.  I can tell you that today, this is true!  What trophies of grace I see in my girls! (just took birth girl #1 and dropped her off at college). God has broken the cycle of generational bondage that defined much of my childhood and young adult life.  I remember the surrender to be a Pastor’s wife only discover that I was completely ill equipped to handle the life because of my own bondage.  I was my own worst enemy.

Donna Gaines author of, “There’s Gotta Be More”,  writes that there are four barriers to Brokenness.  We’ve listed them below:

1.  We try to fix the problem ourselves. You might call this the “handyman – or the handywoman – technique.”  Remember Sarah?  She got tired of waiting for God’s promise that He would make Abraham the father of a great nation. When we try to fix things ourselves, we often end up with an Ismael instead of an Isaac.  To get God’s best we must wait on His own time and in His own way.

2. We ignore the problem.  I call this “the ostrich technique.” If I stick my head in the sand long enough, maybe this issue, this problem, this sin, this stronghold will just pass away and I won’t have to deal with it.  Part of brokenness is a willingness to confront the sin in our own lives.  Sometimes it means speaking the truth in love to a friend or family member.  Covering it up or ignoring it is not an option.

3. We medicate the problem.  This is the “self-help technique.”  We are hurting, depressed, discouraged, and hopeless.  We numb the root cause of our problem with antianxiety medication or antidepressants.  We don’t deal with the underlying issues.  There are times that there are medical reasons for these medications.  Still, sometimes medication becomes an easy way out instead of taking the time to confront our pain and uncover the “why” of our struggles.

4. We try to replace the problem. This might be called “the material girl technique.”  If I had another husband, if I just had another job, or f I had that new house, that new sofa, I’d be happy.”  Sadly, we find that we get the new husband, the new job, the new house, the new furniture, the issues didn’t stay behind.  They followed us because they are us!  It’s probably not news to you that statistics show that second marriages are more likely to end in divorce than the first one, especially when children are involved.

The Holy Spirit will use the fire and trials of life to purify us.  Molding us and crafting us into the women of God –  He has designed us.  The trials will come in many different forms.  Intense.  Hot.  Brutal.  Bothersome. Annoying.  You and I must allow Him to work in the midst and through each one.  We must not   – – we cannot fall back on the barriers listed above.  None of us likes to suffer but when we allow the Refiner to have His way during our pain – He refines us.  He purifies us.  He restores us.  He transforms us.  He renews us.  He completely remakes us for His glory and our good!

Praying and Loving you – sister broken girls!

Diane Nix is director and founder of Contagious Joy.  She is the spiritual mom of two grown daughters. (Kasia 32 & Courtney 30)  The birth mom of two miracle daughters  – one college bound Rebekah and one 15 going on 20 Rachel.  She and her professor/pastor husband, Dr. Preston Nix,  have served in ministry for 30 years August 2013.  She speaks and teaches whenever the Lord gives her opportunity.  Gratefully acknowledging that He has plucked her out of her birth family mire in order to share HIS LOVE!