From Broken to Whole

Have you ever felt like something in your life was too broken to fix?

A relationship that shattered beyond repair.

A failure that left a scar.

A season of suffering that seemed to redefine who you are.

We live in a world that throws away what’s cracked. If it’s broken, it’s dismissed—as useless, worthless, damaged goods. But what if I told you that God doesn’t see you that way?

Today, we meet a man in Scripture who was completely broken—emotionally, spiritually, relationally. He was living among tombs, isolated, tormented, and forgotten. But Jesus didn’t pass him by. Jesus walked straight into his brokenness—and brought healing that touched every part of his life.

And He still does the same today.

Whether your pain is public or private, your brokenness is not the end of your story. It may actually be the very place where God wants to begin His greatest work.

Let’s look at Luke 8 and discover how God takes people from broken to whole, and how your healing becomes the testimony someone else is waiting for.

I want to begin at verse 26.

Luke 8:26–39 NIV

26 They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is across the lake from Galilee. 27 When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torture me!” 29 For Jesus had commanded the impure spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places. 30 Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “Legion,” he replied, because many demons had gone into him. 31 And they begged Jesus repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss. 32 A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into the pigs, and he gave them permission. 33 When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned. 34 When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, 35 and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 36 Those who had seen it told the people how the demon-possessed man had been cured. 37 Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. So he got into the boat and left. 38 The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 “Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.

Brokenness is Part of Every Story

If there was ever someone in scripture that was broken it was definitely the man that we know as legion. This man was so broken that scripture says…

Luke 8:27 NIV

27 When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs.

This man was so broken that he was living among the tombs naked and tormented. Naked and Afraid had nothing on this man.

We need to understand something. The truth is brokenness may look different for each individual. My brokenness is different than your brokenness. There is mental, emotional, relational, and spiritual brokenness. Brokenness is universal.

We shouldn’t try to hide our brokenness, it is the starting point for God’s work in your life.

It is like shattered pottery, our brokenness doesn’t disqualify us, it invites Jesus in.

Imagine a piece of pottery—once whole, beautiful, and useful. But over time, through the wear and tear of life, it falls and shatters into pieces. In our culture, we tend to throw broken things away. If it’s cracked or damaged, we assume it’s useless, worthless, or irreparable.

But in Japan, there’s an ancient art form called Kintsugi—it means “golden joinery.” Instead of discarding broken pottery, the artist carefully collects every piece and then reassembles it using a special lacquer mixed with powdered gold. What was once broken is now put back together—not in a way that hides the cracks, but in a way that highlights them. The gold-filled fractures become part of the story. The restored vessel becomes more beautiful, more valuable, and more meaningful than before.

That’s what God does with us.

Our brokenness doesn’t disqualify us—it invites the Master Artist to do His work.

Jesus doesn’t just sweep up our broken pieces and hide the damage. He restores us in a way that puts His glory on display through our scars.

So, when people look at your life and see the cracks, the trauma, the addiction, the divorce, the depression, the shame—they also see the gold. They see the healing. They see the hand of God. Your life becomes a testimony of grace, not perfection.

Jesus Restores What’s Broken

Look at verse 35.

Luke 8:35 NIV

35 and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.

This man that has lived in the tombs naked is not the same anymore after his encounter with Jesus. This man is now seen clothed, in his right mind, and he is sitting at Jesus feet.

Jesus will never avoid you when you are broken, but Jesus will walk toward you. Jesus wants to restore you and make you whole. He wants to restore your mind, body, and soul.

Jesus didn’t let that man stay bound by the legion of demons that had controlled his mind and body. Jesus confronted the demons and brought peace to this mans mind.

And when this man is restored…

The Healed Become the Heralds

This man that Jesus restored is a changed person. The people in his town knew what this man was like and now they see the difference in him.

Now this man wants to follow Jesus. Look at verse 38.

Luke 8:38–39 NIV

38 The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 “Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.

Why did this man want to follow Jesus? I believe it was because Jesus was the only person that had set him free. He wanted to be with the man that changed his life. But Jesus had another plan. Jesus wanted the man to go and tell his story of what Jesus had done.

Your story is your assignment.

Not everyone will understand how God brought you through what you’ve faced. They may question it, doubt it, or try to explain it away. People might look at you and think, “There’s no way they came out of that addiction, that depression, that trauma, that lifestyle change—just because of Jesus.”

Why? Because healing defies logic. Grace doesn’t fit neatly into formulas. And transformation doesn’t always make sense to those who haven’t experienced it.

But here’s the truth: your testimony is undeniable.

They may not understand how you’ve changed—but they can’t argue with the fact that you have. They see it in your peace. In your joy. In your freedom. In your love. In the way you treat others now. Your life becomes living proof that God still heals, restores, and rewrites stories.

Just like the man in Luke 8—once possessed, isolated, and tormented—when people saw him clothed, in his right mind, and sitting at Jesus’ feet, they were afraid. Why? Because transformation like that shakes people. It reveals that God is real and active.

And when people can’t deny your change, they’re forced to consider your God.

So don’t worry if some people don’t get it. You don’t need to convince anyone—just keep walking in your healing. Your life is the evidence. Your story is the sermon. Your scars preach louder than any words ever could.

That’s the power of your testimony.

God is a God that turns messes into messages.

Share Your Story

This week, I want you to put your story to use. I want you to share your story with someone. Share with someone what God has brought you through.

Your story may be the encouragement someone else needs to believe healing is possible.

Who do you know that needs hope?

Who in your life is silently struggling—living in their own “tomb,” isolated by fear, shame, addiction, or despair? Maybe it’s a family member, a coworker, a neighbor, or a friend you’ve known for years. Maybe it’s someone you see every week, and you had no idea they were barely holding it together.

Your healing is not just for you.

God didn’t bring you through the storm just so you could sit in silence. He restored you so that others could see what healing looks like. He brought you out of the darkness so you could become a lighthouse for those still searching for the shore.

Your scars are not a sign of shame—they’re a signal to others. It’s like your telling them…

“If God can do it for me, He can do it for you.”

Just like Jesus told the healed man in Luke 8, “Go home and tell how much God has done for you,” He’s telling you the same. Don’t underestimate the power of your story. What you thought was just personal pain is actually part of someone else’s breakthrough.

So here’s the challenge:

Who do you know that needs hope?

Who needs to hear your story of healing?

Ask God to put someone on your heart this week—and then step out in boldness and share. You never know… your testimony might be the light that helps lead someone else out of the darkness.

Jesus didn’t just free the man, He gave him a mission.

You are not too broken to be used. In fact, your healing may be the very thing God uses to change someone else’s life.

I want to close this morning by giving you a chance to come to this altar for prayer.

Today, we’ve walked through the story of a man who was completely broken—tormented, isolated, and written off by everyone around him. But Jesus stepped onto the shore of his pain and didn’t turn away. He walked straight into the mess. He didn’t avoid the brokenness—He confronted it. And in one encounter, everything changed.

And that same Jesus… is stepping onto the shore of your life today.

Some of you have been living among your own tombs—bound by shame, fear, addiction, anger, depression, trauma, or regret. Maybe your mind feels tormented. Maybe your heart feels numb. Maybe you’re functioning on the outside but crumbling on the inside.

Hear me: You are not too broken for God.

The world may see the cracks and throw you away—but Jesus sees your potential. He sees what you were created to be. He sees your pain, and He’s not running from it—He’s running toward you.

So the question is simple: Will you let Him in?

Will you bring your brokenness to Jesus today—not the polished version of yourself, but the real you?

This altar is not a place for perfect people. It’s a place for the hurting, the honest, the desperate—the ones who say, “God, I can’t fix this, but I believe You can.”

If that’s you… if something in you is stirring… don’t wait. Don’t hesitate. Come.

Let Jesus do what only He can—restore you, remake you, and fill your broken places with the gold of His grace.

Come as you are.

Come with your cracks.

Come with your wounds.

Because the same Jesus who met a man in the tombs is here to meet you today.

And if you’ve already experienced His healing, but you’ve been holding your story back—this altar is also for you. Come and surrender your testimony to God. Say, “Lord, use my scars. Use my story.”

Because someone is waiting on the other side of your obedience.

Come now. Come from broken to whole. Jesus is calling.