We Gibsons are awfully good at breaking stuff!
When the kids were small, we joked that they should work for a toy testing company. Some gifts didn’t survive Christmas Day. Our children played hard! I always thought I knew where they got it from. Although I am gentle, my clumsiness and absentmindedness sometimes cause damage to things or even to myself.
Wack! “Ouch! My leg hit the corner of the wall. Oh well, I’m fearfully and wonderfully made,” I remind myself. Unlike a car dent or a scratch on my guitar, the bruise fades and heals over time.
Breaking stuff was just a part of life with small kids.
Discovering karate board breaking delighted them.
“Breaking stuff is fun, Mama!” They declared.
Maybe they had found their niche. When I tried it, I agreed. Busting through those boards brought a powerful satisfaction.
Other things are good to break in life. I can break through fear and do hard things. God regularly challenges me out of my comfort zone. Taking karate tests, playing bass on the worship team, and public speaking are a few places where I had to break through the fear tempting me to avoid the stress. Every time I took a challenge to be strong and courageous, God met me in my obedience. I may not have aced these scary scenarios, but I learned to trust God in my shaky willingness. He met me there!
I can break the ice and speak to a stranger. This role challenges a shy introvert. The one who spent half of her life hiding and listening is regularly called to be a friendly leader. When I push through the feeling of fear, I discover God helping me make new connections. Simple smiles and kind words help others feel seen. Friendliness doesn’t need to come naturally to be the right choice.
I can, with prayer, break through spiritual strongholds. I’m still working on this one! Some situations feel too big to change. Even if trying again feels futile, I can demonstrate my trust in God through prayer. My Bible reminds me,
“Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6, NIV). And 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 reminds me that prayer is my secret weapon. I have a choice. Will I trust God or not? If I pray, that tough situation is placed where it belongs, into His capable hands.
Back to those karate boards, we loved board-breaking day! Some people in our class fretted and felt dismay. Breaking stuff didn’t come naturally to them. I did my best to encourage them. My friend, Bill, always told them to stop thinking so hard. “Just do it!” Often, his advice worked well. For me, that moment of breaking through felt like victory. It reminded me I was stronger than I imagined.
Are you good at breaking stuff? God gives us weapons and courage to make it through. Bring it to Him in prayer. Persist in loving challenging people.
Don’t overthink it, just do it!
And remember, breaking stuff can be fun!
