I have been forgotten like one who is dead; I have become like a broken vessel. Psalm 31:12 ESV 

I caught my breath as I looked at the shards of glass all over the floor. I stood completely still as I looked at the broken pieces of a beautiful Japanese platter. There was no fixing this plate. It was now thousands of shattered pieces headed for the trash. I bent down to start sweeping up the broken pieces, reeling from the loss of something so precious to me. 

This platter was given to me by my friends at the Bible study I taught in Japan. I knew that it was expensive, but I also understood the care with which it was chosen for me. The piece was handmade and one of a kind, sage-colored with hand-painted cherry blossoms. I had many conversations about how spring was like God washing the world new for us each year. A beautiful symbol of the love and forgiveness He so freely gives us. 

The last of the ragged shards of glass was in the waste basket. There were tears in my eyes for the lost beauty of this cherished gift. It was such an exquisite reminder of the friendships I made while living in Japan, as well as the women who had come to Christ. My heart felt like those pieces, ragged and broken. It is gone now, and sadly, most days I rarely think of it at all. 

Sometimes, heartbreak doesn’t come from dramatic loss, but from quietly realizing something precious feels unseen, broken, or forgotten. 

Have you ever felt like you or your contributions were lost in the big picture of a project or a group you meet with? I have felt that way many times, feeling invisible, forgotten, or unappreciated. 

The despair David feels in Psalm 31 is overwhelming him. He is grieving, weary and feels forgotten. Every time I read this Psalm my heart is heavy at verse 12. I relate to the brokenness of that verse when I remember seasons of grief, weariness, and feeling unheard. 

I love how honest David is with God. He doesn’t hold anything back. He is hurting and afraid, and tells it just like that to God, sharing everything in his heart because he knows God accepts it. He also knows in all his brokenness God’s promises are never broken. He knows the love of his Lord and praises Him as much as he laments. 

But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors! Make your face shine on your servant; save me in your steadfast love! Psalm 31:14-16 ESV 

Blessings to you as you start your week.