Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread.

I'm Bill Crowder, and I titled today's reading, Beautifully Broken.

Our bus finally arrived at our much-anticipated destination, an archaeological dig in Israel where we would actually do some excavation

work of our own. The site's director explained that anything we might unearth had been untouched

for thousands of years. Digging up shards of broken pottery, we felt as though we were touching

history. After an extended time, we were led though we were touching history.

After an extended time, we were led to a workstation where those broken pieces from huge

vases shattered long, long ago, were being put back together.

The picture was crystal clear.

Those artisans reconstructing centuries-old broken pottery were a beautiful representation of the God

who loves to fix broken things. In Psalm 31 verse 12, David wrote, I am forgotten as though I were

dead. I have become like broken pottery. Though no occasion is given for the writing of this Psalm, David's life

difficulties often found voice in his laments, just like this one. The song describes him

being broken down by danger, enemies, and despair. So where did he turn for help? In verse 16,

David cries out to God, Let your face shine on your servant, save me in your unfailing love.

The God who is the object of David's trust is the same one who still fixes broken things today.

All he asks is that we call out to him and trust in his

unfailing love. Today's scripture reading is from Psalm 31, verses 12 to 24. I am forgotten as though I were dead.

I have become like broken pottery,

for I hear many whispering terror on every side.

They conspire against me and plot to take my life.

But I trust in you, Lord.

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