Brokenness
 | Author:
Ellie West, Master Certified Practitioner of NLP, TLT, & Hypnotherapy and Certified Personal Empowerment and Enneagram Coach
Inside Inspiration: Certified NLP Coach/Practitioner Of Hypnosis and Timeline Therapy |
Brokenness
Ellie West
Master Certified Practitioner of NLP, TLT, & Hypnotherapy and Certified Personal Empowerment and Enneagram Coach
There is so much sadness and brokenness in our world today. I’m reminded that every day is a gift, and we must be intentional about how we spend our time and who we spend it with.
While I was in Incheon, Korea, this past week, I received a text from a friend about the Air India crash. With 45 years in the aviation industry, hearing about incidents like this is never easy. They impact you differently. It’s not just news; it’s personal. You begin to imagine what it was like for the crew, strapped into their jumpseats, knowing something was seriously wrong. As flight attendants, we hear, smell, and sense when something isn’t right. I can only imagine the thoughts running through their minds in those final moments.
Depending on your jumpseat, you can see the cabin and the expressions on passengers’ faces. In a moment like that, I can picture passengers, crew, and pilots all grasping for something, praying, hoping, maybe even saying goodbye in their hearts.
I saw a photo of a family taken before takeoff, with joy on the children’s faces and excitement in the air. Now, that moment holds a different image. When tragedy strikes like this, it brings an added layer of brokenness to the surviving families. It shakes your soul. Hope can feel so far away.
Another close friend experienced his own encounter with tragedy this week. He was in Salt Lake City, about 50 yards from a shooter who took someone’s life. The victim was a husband and father of two. Now my friend is processing all the emotions that come with being that close to such a senseless act. Just days later, more innocent lives were lost in Minneapolis. And for what? These acts serve no purpose. They’re just heartbreaking. Evil has a way of showing up when we least expect it.
When I hear about these things, I don’t just listen to the headlines. I feel the weight. It’s as though we’re in a battle within ourselves, an internal struggle, filled with sadness, fear, and a loss of hope. And I wonder: Do we fight back, or do we choose forgiveness? Do we contribute to the brokenness, or do we become agents of peace? Do these tragedies cripple us, or do they inspire us to live more intentionally?
Today, I’m doing what I love, writing and reflecting. These recent events have prompted me to put my thoughts on paper. I often find myself thinking about how I can bring hope to others, especially those who feel that nothing can ever mend what has been broken in their lives.
Every day, we make plans. But sometimes, life has other plans. Dreams shift. Plans change. And we’re left wondering why. I recently wished a friend a happy birthday, telling him I hoped this next year would be filled with peace. His response was simple: “Quite a mysterious journey.” And it is. Life is full of mystery; some parts are beautiful, while others are heartbreaking.
But through it all, I believe God is at work. Romans 8:28 reminds us that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. I may not have all the answers as to why things happen the way they do, but I believe that God holds all things in His hands.
I don’t blame God when tragedy strikes; that’s never been how I see Him. We live in a fallen world, and people have free will. God didn’t place a gun in someone’s hand, nor did He cause a plane to fall from the sky or take someone’s loved one away. But I do believe He was there, in the chaos, in the grief, in the final moments. He’s the one who brings comfort to the hurting, hope to the hopeless, and healing to the brokenhearted.
When we cry, He’s not far off; He’s near. He’s the Creator of all life, and He cares deeply. That doesn’t mean everything will be good or that it will all make sense right away. But it does mean that nothing we go through will be wasted. He uses it all, even the hardest parts, for something greater than we can see in the moment.
There’s so much we don’t understand, and maybe we never will on this side of heaven. But we can still trust. We can still believe. Sometimes, we simply have to embrace the mystery of it all, knowing that God is still God.
So I invite you to reflect. Look back on your life. Were there moments that didn’t make sense at the time, but now you see how God was working behind the scenes? Perhaps you’re still in that waiting space. That’s okay too.
However you experience Him, know this: even when He feels far, He is close. Even when situations seem hopeless, He is present. Even when your faith is small, it’s enough. Just a little bit of trust in a great God can carry you through the darkest days.
