This weekend, we went to see The Hanna Montana Movie. There aren’t a lot of films that a family can see and yes, we like the Hanna Montana show on Disney! It’s cute and fluffy and the movie was sweet. One of my favorite scenes had the group Rascal Flatts singing “God Bless the Broken Road.” I love the group and love the song. In one verse it says, “every long lost dream, led me to where you are, others who broke my heart, they were like northern stars, pointing me on my way into your loving arms, this much I know is true, that God blessed the broken road that led me straight to you.” I know it’s written as a love song but it’s been in my head all day. My heart was broken and the only place I could go was into the loving arms of the One who really understands. He knows my story and He’s been beside me as I’ve traveled every road…every broken road. There was an old Russ Taff song that said, “Every road you’ve traveled down, He has walked before you.” That line always stayed with me because I know there isn’t a feeling that Jesus did not feel on this earth. He knew hurt, betrayal, grief, sadness, rejection, temptation, physical pain, and so on. He cried…tears. Can you imagine that?
That’s why we can identify with Him and He, as our Great Intercessor, can identify with us. It’s easy to work for someone that will get in the trenches with you and not just stay perched in their ivory palaces of superiority. God sent His son to the earth to prove that a sinless life could be possible amidst all the challenges and the hurts. He got in the trenches with the likes of “us”. The disciples that walked with Jesus doubted Him, grieved Him, denied Him, and ultimately betrayed Him. These men witnessed His life, His ministry, and His miracles and yet they still did those things. Enter my life, your life and the people in it! Isn’t it always the people that know you the most, or that you care for deeply, that can hurt you more than anyone else? It’s obvious why - because they matter. One day, when I was trying not to have a pity party, I was sad and hurt but God gently spoke these words to me, “You matter”. That was it! But, that was all He really needed to say… I mattered to Him. Here I was, traveling along another broken road, and found out that I mattered!
So everyone that breaks my heart is as the song so eloquently describes; they are like northern stars pointing me on my way into the loving arms of the One who whispers, “you matter.” The first sermon that Jesus preached, He mentioned the broken-hearted because “they mattered”. Our broken roads lead us to Him…because “He matters” most of all. Jesus knew what “broken” looked like and felt like. His body was broken but so was His will. It was when He prayed, “not my will but Thine be done” that He felt the most broken of all. No wonder He understands our everyday experiences and responds to us with such compassion.
God will use anything to teach us or to help us along this road called life. For me, it was a moment in a kid’s movie and a country song but this much I know is true, that God blessed my broken road that led me straight to Him. I’m just glad that I didn’t get lost, this time, and knew where to turn.
