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Becoming Unbroken

After some thought and time, I recognize the need to tell the story of my journey to unbrokenness. I haven’t had a bad life. I was blessed to be raised in church by my parents and experienced the love of Jesus at an early age. Even though we have all we need, sometimes we still make a mess of things.

For me, the turning point was when my parents split up. I was sixteen years old, and I grappled with the fact that my prayers had seemed to go unanswered. I didn’t understand at the age of sixteen that unanswered prayers are sometimes God’s best work. Instead, I focused on my emotions and allowed my feelings to dictate my actions. This led to a seed of resentment toward God and others that would ultimately become a deep-rooted bitterness.

As I entered my twenties, I found myself returning to the way I should go. But my heart wasn’t in it. I went through the motions and said and did all the right things. That happens a a lot, actually. We have made going to church a task that is easily mimicked. Only God truly knows our hearts. It would be several years before I would truly encounter His love and grace.

In 2013, God finally got my attention in such a real way. I met Jesus as my merciful advocate and returned to my first love. First works (re-dedication and baptism) were repeated because I knew that I was different. God changed my longing and evaporated the walls I had built around my heart. He exposed my heart for what it had been so many years, and I rejoiced in His truth, mercy, and salvation.

After some time, Pastor Chuck asked me to step into kids ministry. I totally did not see that coming! I had spent my life leading on the worship team. At the same time, this new position made perfect sense. After prayerful consideration, my husband and I stepped into the role. Serving in kids ministry has been a tremendous joy. But God wasn’t finished with my assignments.

September 2020 will forever be etched in my mind. Our dear friend and pastor, Chuck Glass, walked into eternity after a fatal vehicle accident. The would plunge me deeper into the heart of God and result in what you are now reading-the blog that God called me to write.

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. Psalms‬ ‭139:23-24‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I still remember crying out to God in desperation after Chuck’s death. I begged Him to mend the broken pieces. His simple response was to stop asking Him to fix what wasn’t broken. He already has repaired me. I’m not in the scrap pile. God, in His mercy, had been repairing the cracks of my foundation with more of Him. Then He called me to write!

So my heart and spirit are unbroken. My work on earth is undone. I unravel my heart to you, dear reader, every week. God still working.

Welcome to this space. Thank you for your joining me on this journey. 

© Jill Cook and Unbroken & Undone Ministries.  All rights reserved


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