The Thing About Bones
Shortly after Matt and I got married, a friend commended us on our marriage. “You guys have such a great relationship. The bones are good,” she said.
I smiled and thanked her. As far as I knew, our love was built on a solid foundation. Yes, the bones were good.
So, when we hit rock bottom in 2020, I was shocked. A global pandemic was just starting to overwhelm the world, but all I could see were the ruins around me.
What followed was a profound restorative work of the Holy Spirit. Matt and I sought counseling, together and individually, to rebuild trust and heal. We shared our story with our parents and close friends, welcoming their prayers and wisdom. Matt joined an accountability group to establish healthy rhythms with likeminded men.
From those ruins we began to rebuild. In March, we celebrated two years of transparency and reconciliation; Matt is living in sobriety and savouring the beauty of freedom.
Of course, this is the abridged version of our story. X-ray us, and you will find evidence of fault lines. Recovery of any kind takes time.
Yet, as I reflect on the words of my friend, I keep drawing the same conclusion: maybe good bones aren’t the ones that never break but the ones that grow back together.
In the days following a fracture, the human body forms a blood clot around the broken bone to protect it and deliver the cells required for healing. Then, a portion of healing tissue forms to cushion the bone. This is called a callus, and it is the material that joins broken bones back together.
In this depiction of the physical body at work, I see a powerful metaphor for Christ’s body at work. Matt and I were fractured. And we needed the Church to help us gather up the pieces. God met us in our fragile state, sending faithful people to surround us and provide protection. They served as vessels for the delivery of His redemption.
The body helped bind us up through prayer, words of encouragement, and mentorship.
As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 12:
“In that way, the parts of the body will not take sides. All of them will take care of one another. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it. If one part is honoured, every part shares in its joy.”
- 1 Corinthians 12:25-26 NIRV
When the Church mobilises its people as agents of healing, radical transformation can happen. We are proof of this. The obedience and intentionality of our brothers and sisters in Christ enriched our journey in miraculous ways.
The body of Christ is resilient; when one part is weak, the other parts share their strength. This is how we move forward from seasons of heartache; this is how we turn a lame man’s limp into a saved man’s victory lap.
So, to the one who thinks they’re useless: think again. You are uniquely equipped with spiritual gifts that, exercised in partnership with the Lord, can change lives.
To the one who is tired: know that your contributions matter. Find refreshment for your soul, but don’t retire. The kingdom needs you.
To the one who is hurting, too: it is a brave thing to share your pain with someone else. Don’t suffer in silence. Your vulnerability is an act of worship, and God delights in resetting broken bones.
Amy Chapman
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Amy is a freelance writer, engaged
at Mission Community Church