Why Broken & Beauty-Full?
Because when we acknowledge the broken, God can do His most beauty-full work.
Welcome to Broken & Beauty-Full
Hi… Welcome to the Broken & Beauty-full blog. My name is Denise Forrest, and I created this blog as a sacred space where faith and real life meet up - where brokenness isn’t hidden, and beauty isn’t filtered.
If that thought stirs you up at all, then we are kindred spirits!
Have you ever felt like you had to hide the parts of you that are still aching? Or just quietly hoped the ache would disappear?
The wound from a relationship.
The regret over a decision, or indecision.
The part of your story that still makes your voice crack.
My friend, you’re not alone.
Every single one of us carries something broken, if we can be honest about it.
And still, there can also be beauty here, if we look for it.
Why I Created This Blog
I’ve been passionately and wholeheartedly devoted to walking the faith-filled path for nearly three decades. If there’s one truth that continues to anchor me, it’s this:
We are always living in the “and/both.”
Broken and beautiful.
Grieving and growing.
Flesh and spirit.
Wise and foolish.
It messes us up when we think we are living in the “or/either”. Am I broken or beautiful, grieving or growing, flesh or spirit, wise or foolish? The or is so definitive, but the and gives room to breathe and live, and the space to choose faith over fear.
This blog, Broken & Beauty-full, was born from that deep realization.
For too long, I tried to focus only on the beautiful.
I thought if I just stayed positive, full of love and in grace, everything would work out.
And many things have worked out from that point of view. But life isn’t lived in filtered light.
It was only when I stopped running from the brokenness - my own and others’ - that I began to feel truly free and whole. It transformed me.
Not perfect. Not polished.
But deeply connected to God, who meets us all right where we are... in the middle of any challenge and pain.
What you can expect, the heart and rhythm behind this blog
Broken & Beauty-full is a space created for sacred storytelling.
A place for us to come as we are and be inspired to go through the middle moments.
There are two posts a week, on Monday and Thursday. At the onset, there are seven categories that make up the Broken & Beauty-full blog: The faith-filled lifestyle, The woman in the mirror, TELL our children, Unconditional Love, Fruitful Relationships, Live & Learn, and Personal Life Stories. (Click here if you want to know more about the seven categories.)
Each of the categories is a reflection of something I, or someone I personally know, have lived, studied, prayed about, or am still learning about (sometimes all at once!). My hope is that these stories and reflections stir something in you. Maybe it’s a gentle nudge. Maybe it’s a deep calling. Maybe it’s just the comfort of knowing you’re not alone.
Because here’s what I’ve come to witness and believe:
God really does do His most beautiful work through broken things.
And then there’s the enemy…
who would love for us to believe that broken means unworthy, unusable, no good, and forgotten.
But God...
He draws near.
He binds.
He rebuilds.
He heals.
He makes beauty out of dust. (Isaiah 61:3)
Today’s Reflection
Take a moment with these questions:
What parts of my heart are stirred by reading this post?
Is there a part of my story that feels too broken to express — let alone embrace?
Where can I thank God for a time He brought beauty into a painful place?
Am I debating “this or that,” when maybe I need to create space for and?
Could that help me show up stronger and gentler, more faith-filled, today?
The Bible tells us so …
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18
“My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9
“For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:20
Closing Thoughts for Today…
From My Heart to Yours
Once again, welcome to Broken & Beauty-full. Thanks for being here.
Every day I wonder and dream about how this world could transform if more people allowed our brokenness to become sacred ground for growth… for God’s goodness to show up.
Seriously – can you imagine the beauty, not in spite of the broken…
…but because of it?
Ahhh… that lights me up!
See you next post.
Always in love,
Denise
Do you have a personal broken and beauty-full story that you would like to share? I’d love to hear from you. [Click here to message me.]
Let’s connect and allow your honest, real, and faith-filled story give other’s hope once and for all.
Also, if you know someone who could benefit from reading this post, please share the message with them.
