A sacred intersection.
There’s been one this week.
Between your brokenness and mine.
And while I didn’t plan on it, I’m not surprised by it. Why? Because brokenness yields brokenness. Whatever we’re speaking about, teaching about, walking and talking about, we do so hoping that someone else will resonate with our words. Otherwise, that’s all they will ever be. Words … void of purpose and with the hopeless float of nothingness. But when our words are spoken from a pure place—a place that harbors and collects the truest truths of our journeys—then they breathe with a clarity that strikes a chord in others who are walking a similar path.
That’s what I was after when I shared with you the prompting that had been swirling around my heart for the past couple of weeks. As I approached my blogging anniversary, I had a thought that, perhaps, God was calling me to share the story of my “letting go” of my childhood home, my prodigal years, and my father’s reaching love therein.
There was very little planning that went into my re-telling of that event. I just grabbed Billy and the flip ultra and told him that we needed to do a little video message. No notes. No polish, just shootin’ from the hip and the heart. It’s the way that I do most things, especially when it comes to my many words.
How could I have known at the time that my words … my prayer … would come back upon me in full measure and in surprising and unexpected ways? I couldn’t have known; thus, I didn’t expect. Yet within a few hours of verbalizing my heart, my “inbox” was flooded, not only with your comments, but with more personal pleas for notice … for prayer.
It matters not the details of those requests nor the places, both far and wide, from which they came. God simply allowed them their landing in my lap, and I am undone with the prospect of what it all means. Let me unpack that a bit.
Pain is a powerful tool for reaching other people. When others know that you’ve walked pain through to the other side of healing, they become more willing to talk about their own journey of sorrow. Pain speaks a language all its own, and when you’ve become proficient with its “speak” because you’ve fully worn the consequences of its truth, you become a conduit for receiving the pain of others.
It’s a gift of sorts. Both to them and to you. When God allows the witness of your brokenness to intersect with the lives of others who are currently trying to fight their way out of the rubble, both parties receive the gift of God’s magnificent grace. You are allowed to use your pain for God’s greater purposes, and, subsequently, they are allowed the vision of a greater purpose for their pain.
I think this is what the Apostle Paul had in mind when he penned the following truth:
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.” (2 Corinthians 1:3-5).
Thus, a sacred intersection.
Thus, your brokenness and my healing co-mingling on the road of life this week, all the while hearing my Father’s voice ringing in my heart with a question that directly relates back to the prayer that I prayed with you on Tuesday. Hear now a portion of the unscripted request of my heart as recorded on the video…
“Father in heaven I thank you for this glorious day of celebration that brings my life into the lives of your daughters and your sons, Lord. I pray, Father, that the words of my mouth, not only this mouth but the words of my pen would reflect you all the days of my life … that something in my life could be found pleasing to you and that you would run with it God.”
He’s running with it, friends. Apparently, he’s found something pleasing—something purified solely through the atoning work of his cross—and he’s decided to run with it. His question back to me?
“Will you run with it, elaine? I’ve given you this intersection between your brokenness and the brokenness of others. Will you run with it? Will you be the evidence of things unseen? Will you stand as my witness with your words and your prayers and your follow-through while others choose their silence over involvement? Will you contain my witness within the comfortable parameters of the righteous or will you allow me a voice via yours to those who have yet to be clothed with my majesty from on high? Will you run with it, elaine, or will your words float hopeless and void of purpose? This is your sacred intersection, elaine. Will you run with me and see it through?”
How would you answer? What do you do when the brokenness of your past catches up with you in order to be the blessing for someone else’s pain in the present?
I tell you what I am doing and will continue to do. I receive it, all the while believing that our intersection is part of God’s great design for both of our lives. I take its gracious landing onto my lap and hold it with all the care of heaven. I run with it, all the way to my Father’s feet and place it before him as an offering. I intercede for your healing. Your wholeness. Your turning toward home and finding the truth of who you are meant to be in Jesus Christ.
Will you do the same, friends? Run with your Father and see things through to the end? Your brokenness doesn’t necessarily breathe like mine. God has tailor-made an avenue of ministry for you because of it. Thank God for it; don’t minimize its worth in your life. Find your healing through Jesus Christ and then allow him his further hand in the matter. He has taken hold of you for a specific and everlasting purpose—a purpose that directly links you with the lives of others who are walking in similar stride.
We need not fear the exposure of our bad, our shattered and our defiled. God doesn’t condemn us because of our brokenness. God heals us so that we can bring his healing to others through our restoration. There is no shame at the cross of Jesus Christ. There is only freedom in the truth of its witness.
{image removed on 7-18-2017 at 10:58 PM}
A sacred intersection for all mankind. Between God’s brokenness and ours. A powerful pain that continues to reach … to teach … to take hold and to transform all of that which is shattered into a conduit of lasting and final significance.
Run with it, friends. Run with Him … all the way home to receive the prize for which God has called you heavenward in Christ Jesus. Together, we can do this thing. I count it a joy to intersect my life with yours for our Father’s great and mighty purposes.
In the name of the Father who planned us, the Son who saved us, and the Holy Spirit who keeps us as such, Amen.
Copyright © February 2009 – Elaine Olsen
PS: The winners of Watermark’s “A Grateful People” are: #15 Laura and #79 Beth E.
Thanks to everyone for playing along this week and for your wonderful support of peace for the journey. I look forward to sharing another year’s worth of words with you; perhaps this will be the year in which many of us could gather together and have that cup of coffee, diet coke, or latte. Now that would be something, wouldn’t it?! I’m asking God for this specific happening. Shalom.
Elaine, the ministry God has given me is ENTIRELY built upon brokenness. Like Paul, I truly believe that sharing our stories is one of the most powerful things we can use our tongues and pens for as believers. Some people fear their brokenness is too large, others feel theirs isn’t enough. But if it comes from a pure heart, and the Lord leads one to share out of His motive for His purposes, empty-handed, surrendered, then God will use it, big or small. Everybody’s got sum’tin to share… I’m so thankful for the way you do this with each word you “speak” from your blog, and also for the way so many others do the same. His body was broken for us…so our brokenness leads others to see a piece of Himself. It’s what the gospel is based on.
Love this post, dear friend.
And we overcame him by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony! Powerful words about the words we share and in our sharing, our faith is strengthened and in our sharing others are freed……. We overcome him………..
Our Testimony is Powerful enough to bring about the overcoming of the enemy……..Isn’t that just like the Father to take us and heal us and then use our brokenness to help bring about healing to others…….. HE is a good God!
Thank you for your words as I have tried to share my heart… I have gotten many email from all around this country……. I thank God that HE allows me to touch just one life………
“What do you do when the brokenness of your past catches up with you in order to be the blessing for someone else’s pain in the present?
I tell you what I am doing and will continue to do. I receive it, all the while believing that our intersection is part of God’s great design for both of our lives. I take its gracious landing onto my lap and hold it with all the care of heaven. I run with it, all the way to my Father’s feet and place it before him as an offering. I intercede for your healing. Your wholeness. Your turning toward home and finding the truth of who you are meant to be in Jesus Christ.”
This statement hit me right between the eyes. I can’t say that I have received the brokenness in my past. I have fought it, let it go, picked it back up, fought it, let it go, etc., etc. It’s time to lay it at His feet, use it for His glory, and move on…once and for all.
Thanks for an awesome post, Elaine.
Oh, and I am so excited about winning something! :o)
Elaine, isn’t it so amazing when God gives us the desires of our hearts? And we are overwhelmed that He truly did give us the desires… and then fulfilled them. And then we wonder where do my desires end… and His begin?
Praising God, sister!
Delight yourself in the LORD
and he will give you
the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4 NIV
The transparency and honesty you share and speak of is what emboldens the runner, and releases the observer to run too.
Keep on sharing. For truly both the noble chapters of your life as well as the ignoble ones are what make up your compelling saga.
To God be the glory!
Kathleen
What an amazing ministry the Lord has given you, Elaine. Such truth here. Those verses from 2 corinthians have been precious to me for a while – especially since Marc’s health issues. Thank you.
It’s in brokenness that true beauty is born. Sharing our ‘ashes’ can be difficult, but it letting others see our ‘burns’ and the journey that brings healing to those scars, where so much connection and growth is found. I think when we share our brokenness, not only are we ‘real’ but it gives others permission to remove the mask and be authentic as well. It’s hard to share hurtful pasts with those who ‘appear’ all together.
Elaine, I’m forever thankful for the sacred intersection of your comment and my reading. I love how God planned that moment and stirred my heart. The God of the entire Universe designed that we would be friends. He chose you for a scared intersecting in my life ~ all I can do is thank Him.
Praying for you and Billy and all your children by name. Keep running – the Lord is using you powerfully for His glory.
Love, prayers and hugs,
Joy
“…when our words are spoken from a pure place—a place that harbors and collects the truest truths of our journeys—then they breathe with a clarity that strikes a chord in others who are walking a similar path.”..
Loved this…I am always aware when my heart resonates as I read a post that this word is ‘anointed’ with His redemptive power. This reinforces the word from Beth I just listened to that God’s purpose is not to make our lives ‘easy’ but filled with meaning and purpose as we minister out of our own brokenness.
Thaanks again, Elaine…for praying…
Love, Sita
Oh! Yay! Love Watermark! I have enjoyed sharing your story, and you are so right: sharing brokeness is a wonderful way to connect and teach.
love you, sister!
laura
Elaine, I had read this post first but had to go to your video to understand. I’m glad I took the time. I am a broken vessel too. Lately, the 2 Cor 1 passage keeps coming to me. As we go through our difficult times, we are able to understand others who are going through trials. And reach out to offer our love and encouragement.
Sometimes I cover up my brokenness with a “happy face” while I ache inside. I guess I feel like people don’t want to hear about your problems. But when we are real and share, it does open up such good dialog. I’m going through a difficult time right now. So, I appreciate listening to your testimony. Thank you for sharing your heart.
i read this post before listening to your video… i cried when you talked about your dad’s outstretched arms. part of your healing comes from your parents’ unconditional love. thank you for sharing your journey so openly. happy blog anniversary. our blogs have more or less the same birthdays! mine was born a year ago today in chiang mai thailand! keep running with Jesus, Elaine! You are a blessing.
Beautifully written and compelling.
Melanie@Bella~Mella
The only words that come to mind are… I love you! I love you Lord. I love you Elaine! Please share this or some parts of this on Tuesday for What’s on Your Mind. It’s exactly what the carnival is all about!
Elaine, I love the Scripture that you shared from 2 Corinthians. I had planned to include it in my “God of All Comfort” post (which ended up being “Believer or Deceiver”!).
Last Sunday night, at our church’s prayer and healing service, I prayed over a young girl without knowing her circumstances. The Lord impressed upon my heart to pray 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 over her. Afterwards, she shared that she suffers from chronic pain and never knew why. Through His Word, the Lord encouraged her to take comfort in Him and also to share His comfort others.
How amazing is our God to personal and uniquely comfort each of us?! Instead of discarding our broken pieces, He tenderly gathers them, repurposing them from ugly and useless shards to brilliant and beautiful masterpieces, all for His glory, honor, and praise!
“What do you do when the brokenness of your past catches up with you in order to be the blessing for someone else’s pain in the present?
Oh yes! The brokenness of our pasts!! Don’t we wish sometimes that those things of our past could be totally wiped away and never brought to light again!!
But oh, our God has so much more in store for us than that!! I believe that he allows those things, and brings us through those things for a reason or for someone other than myself. God is cool that way. Always turns something bad, into something for his glory!!
Our God is Good!!
God is definitely using you in wonderful ways, dear sister!
In my brokeness God is glorified!
I found on Friday that a “brokeness” that had been consuming me for some time now intersected with a client who called and asked if she could just come over and talk. We aren’t close friends… I have only represented her in buying and selling a home. She is broken… she is looking to be made whole and I was able to share some of my story and witness to her. Our brokeness intersected.
I do have to say… just prior to her call I had been face down praying, crying… and feeling the comfort of the Lord’s hand. And then… He used me to encourage and comfort another. When I woke up yesterday morning and the morning progressed and I felt the burden of an issue that had been weighing my heart down, that had hurt me.. I never, ever would have thought at that time (since I was so consumed w/ me) that He would use me the same day to help another.
My sweet sister Elaine… how I am thankful that God can make Indiana and North Carolina intersect!
Love you,
K
that would be a “heavenly” get together…
Our brokenness speaks to our hearts, to relate to His brokenness, and then to share…i wholeheartedly agree.
thanks for your blessings!
Elaine,
Wow…amazing wow…our lives are intersecting Friend and forever I will be grateful.
Not only will I receive and run with it, but I’ll also trust Him.
Love your sharing life with me,
Yolanda
Hi Elaine! This is “pretty toes” Kerri. I loved your comment on Heidi’s blog! 🙂
Your “Running our Sacred Intersections” spoke to my heart as I was reading it. I’m there! Broken as in with a fractured foot right at this moment and at a roundabout of intersections as I try to figure out how God wants to use this broken vessel. I just became an elementary teacher 2 years ago, I’m an empty nester mom, newly retired Air Force wife, etc. I don’t know where I am these days or what I’m supposed to be doing. All I know is that HE KNOWS and when I feel like I’m between a rock and a hard spot, it’s not a dead end. (Isaiah 43 The Message) The past 36 hours have been hours of tears shed for different reasons, extreme pain and I don’t know why else. But I’m glad He does and that He knows my heart!
Blessings to you, friend!
Oh Elaine,
What do I say but thank you.
Thank you for sharing your heart. This post had me in tears. I am so grateful for those sacred intersections in our lives. No, they are not easy. They take deliberate choice on our parts at times to go where God wants us to… but they are so rewarding.
Yes, the pain of our past catches up with us (we can never really out run it, even if we think we are) but God can use it if we only let Him.
You have been such a blessing. I can’t tell you what your kind words in my comments and in emails have meant to me. I can’t tell you how grateful I am to have a friend who is so willing to share her struggles, and her brokenness, because like you said we comfort with the comfort we ourselves have received.
Thank you for being faithful in lifting me up before our Father. I do the same for you.
Love you my friend.
Heather
Yes Elaine-I am running with it, not from it. Being able to look at brokenness as a cherished part of my life is such a blessing. I see others struggle in their brokenness and my heart wants to so reach out to them in His name. So I continue to run with it-we continue to run with it. It is a beautiful calling.
You are beautiful my friend!
In His Graces~Pamela
Praise YOU Father God for allowing Elaine’s word to reach out to those who need to read/hear them. What a powerful message. I pray that she is able to continue sharing Your word with us. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Hey Mrs. Elaine. Love this post. I do want the Lord to heal me of anything painful that I know He can then use me to encourage others to press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus has taken hold of me. I am His. He completes what He starts. I want to share that with others. He never, no never leaves or forsakes us…I also wanted to let you know that I am going to Deeper Still in Greensboro, NC in July/August! Some of my fam and mentors from church might be coming too. That’s your homestate, right? I’m excited, I think it will be good times:)
Blessings,
katiegfromtennessee
Elaine,
I am blessed that God had our lives to “intersect” through our blogs. I have learned much through your writings. And I want to say Thank You for the personal interest you have taken in praying for needs that I have had from time to time. I wish that I could express my thoughts as eloquently as some who have already commented do but it seems that lately I am at a loss for the right words. Please know that although this may seem plain and shallow, I hope the Holy Spirit will allow them to be interpreted as rich and deep when you read them! 🙂
God bless you!
Marilyn
I am so grateful that God doesn’t waste our pain. Many of us have gone through difficult times, but it’s so that we can reach out and comfort others with the comfort with which HE comforts US.
That’s exactly what you’re doing here, Elaine. God bless you, sister!
Dearest Elaine,
As I read your message it immediately became one with my heart as if it were my ‘story’ if you will.
I’m reminded of a message I preached in 2006 titled There is purpose in our pain.
I had to realize after the childhood, teen days and early adult years I went through that everything had a purposed, that which was done to me and that which I did to myself. All of it our Abba Father used to bring me to that place of brokeness — healing and wholeness in Christ.
When you live THROUGH (not stuck in) the experiences of your pain, it makes you far more compassionate and caring toward others who are hurting. Because time and time again I had been a hurting woman in need of an intersection with the Holy Spirit of God!
I’m honored that our lives are intersecting and may it be for the glory of God. He is using you Elaine in mighty ways!
Love you.
wifeforthejourney:
I thank God for your unvarnished sincerity and vulnerability. Your obedience has made a lot of honest confessions possible both in blog-land and here at home.
Love you,
Billy
You have such a powerful ministry. I see now that getting your writing published isn’t necessary–you are doing it all through this blog and through your life already!
I have lost your email address, sweet friend! And, my computer’s security system doesn’t allow me to just click on your email button and send a note! Quite frustrating! When you get a chance, would you please email me your phone number, and I’ll give you a call after while to discuss some running issues!! I am blessing your sweet little heart right now! I’ve got a couple of thoughts to share, and talking is better than writing! At least for me!! Just send it to [email protected] or if you have the other email address, please use that! I always read it first.
Hugs,
Susan
Great post Elaine!
Isn’t it amazing how we become trustworthy when we are alumni of the same pain? A sisterhood of trust for the deep hurts of our heart. God’s plan is amazing.
Blessings,
Marita
I love that phrase sacred intersection. In some ways, I believe these are before us every day, if we open our eyes to the meaning of things.
Hey Elaine – found you thru facebook! I became a blog addict a few years ago and always love to add ones of folks I know to my fav list! Hope you are doing well!
Hey Mrs. Elaine:)
I have to run to work again, but I wanted to say thanks for your post on my blog. It is a blessing to have that perspective given to you my Him when going on mission trips. I would really like for us to meet up in June. What’s your e-mail? Mine is [email protected]
Hope you have a blessed day,
katiegfromtennessee