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Our first state side assignment was in Arkansas and I had a hard time getting used to being away from my family.

I missed my mother and fortunately am married to a man that could see that was what I needed from time to time – to be with my mother. I packed for a few weeks and was taking Sean with me. Still in diapers, Sean was a full of energy toddler and we had a long journey ahead.

As we got ready to leave, Sean walked over behind the furniture to look outside this big bay window we had in our apartment. When I called for him to come to me his foot became entangled in a lamp chord. He continued to walk and the antique, oriental lamp hit the floor and shattered into a thousand pieces. I did not have time to worry about the lamp, but kissed my husband, picked up Sean and off I went.

When I arrived at Mom’s I told her that the lamp was no more. My parents had given it to me. As a teenager, I was odd. I loved collecting antiques. On that long trip, I thought about that shattered lamp off and on. I thought about that shattered lamp. There was nothing I could do about the lamp. It was beautiful art, but the main thing, Sean was ok. It was silly of me to entertain any other thoughts.

But that is what we as humans do, we entertain thoughts. We have accidents, life happens and there are just things that we cannot control. Some are very trivial such as this lamp and then others are heart breaking. The Word tells us, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me” (John 14:1). “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (Psalm 14:3).

Sometimes we feel as though nothing can fix our brokenness. We struggle, but God reminds us in His Word, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18). “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).

I want you to know that when I returned back home from my trip. My lamp was sitting in my living room. Had my husband gone and found another? No. He took all those shattered pieces (hundreds) and he put them back together. Piece by piece, like a puzzle, he glued one piece at a time. God goes far beyond that kind of fixing. Don’t be troubled. He can make you whole.

Yvette Perrin is a columnist for The Charlotte Gazette. She can be reached at theword2yvette@gmail.com.