The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Psalm 34:17-18
To be faced with one's humanity is to be made aware of your vulnerabilities, weaknesses, and shortcomings. We as people are made up of experiences; some such experiences can shatter our self-esteem and lead us toward feeling unloved, anxious, and isolated. For many, these feelings can result in self-harm, suicidal ideation, and substance abuse. To be human is to be vulnerable to these things, to perhaps become "broken."
In her workbook "Gracefully Broken," Dr. Tamika Brown guides her readers through healing our ails and trauma through faith in the Lord. There is hope to be found in the understanding that our struggles have a purpose. The "Gracefully Broken" journey aims to find healing, peace, joy, and understanding and to recognize that each person has unique value and worth. Though we may be "broken," our struggles can play a vital role in our lives and help us grow.
This workbook treats the person, not as an irrevocably broken object but rather considers the person engaging with their work as a series of puzzle pieces that must be reassembled. There are three major pieces of the puzzle, the self-according to this text, the "Edge," which is your foundation, the very basis of who you are; the "Regular," which is the aspects of the self one may perceive as mundane or normal; and finally the "Irregular," which are areas of hardship, trauma, and difficulties that may be difficult to revisit and could be sources of the "brokenness" this text is guiding you to heal.
Gracefully Broken" allows its readers to heal and grow from the past while helping them avoid pitfalls in the future. God is always at the center of this workbook; the healing done through this workbook will be a testament to God's love and will guide you to trust in the Lord's plan for you and to lean on him as you navigate your life. In addition, this journal will be a resource to strengthen your relationship with God and to understand and rebuild yourself through writing prompts, reading, and exercises. Though not a replacement for medical and mental health treatment, it can be a valuable supplement towards personal and spiritual growth.
