While leaving work the other day, I noticed a mass of broken glass near my parked car. My first response was “Great! A flat tire! Just the perfect ending to my far from perfect day.” As I fumbled for my keys I caught a glimpse of the beauty of the broken glass. The sunlight hitting it reflected a rainbow of color!

As I looked at the glass I wondered how each piece would fit back together, and if placed back together what it would become. I took a closer look and tried to guess what it had been. Whatever it had been, I would never have seen its beauty if it had not been broken.

As we are broken by sorrow or suffering, God has opportunity to create His beauty in us. Often, before we can be what God created us to be, we must fall into a million pieces. We must admit we need Him to put us together.

Then we can see our beauty, our purpose and our worth. If we keep ourselves together, whether it be by lies or appearance, we are robbing God of His divine creation.

We are all great creatures of God’s handiwork, but sometimes we must break before we can shine.