I came across a Facebook conversation between a friend and me from over a decade ago when I was in college, in regards to something I posted about a crayon that had broken while I was coloring. The Facebook exchange went like this:

Friend: What did you do that for?? [In response to my post about breaking the crayon.] You’re not supposed to press that hard, silly.

Me: I was barely touching it! It was yellow-green though. Not the prettiest crayon in the box.

Friend: Oooh, yuck! It deserved to be broken

Me: But now there is an empty space in my crayon box. See, all crayons are important, they all have a place. No matter how ugly they are!

Friend: Is this going to turn into a Bible lesson? Because we’re just like crayons. And God loves all crayons.

Me: That’s totally what I was just thinking! What a great lesson.

Friend: Actually, it is pretty brilliant. Who would think to use a crayon analogy?

Me: Us, of course!

Friend: Aww! We just had a spiritually divine moment on Facebook, so cute.

The exchange went on with other people chiming in. At one point, my roommate and I glued the crayon back together, and I equated it to my friend that God glues us back together and makes us new.

My friend responded, giving me some much-needed insight.

God is much better than just gluing our pieces back together. He uses the little pieces of us to make a beautiful picture.

Which crayon in the box are you? Are you hot pink or cerulean, which always seems to be used? Or are you red, black, or white, not always wanted but always used because they build the backbone of the picture? Or are you green-yellow? The one color no one ever wants to use?

Are you in pristine condition, fresh out of the box? Or do you feel worn down, cracked, or even broken?

I know I have not always felt wanted. I have often felt like green-yellow, only used when it was absolutely necessary. And I don’t often feel pristine or fresh out of the box.

As someone who grew up in the church and was always there, I was the crayon that was used because it was necessary for the picture to be drawn. Chairs needed to be moved, so I moved chairs. Dishes needed to be cleaned, so I cleaned dishes. Copies needed to be made and cards needed to be cut, so I made copies and cut cards. It seems I was never picked from the box to be the pink highlight of the picture (although, I know I can name times in which I was).

When you feel like yellow-green, worn out, cracked, or even broken, remember my friend’s words: what God does is much better than just gluing our pieces back together. He uses every piece of us–even the little ones–to make a beautiful picture.

Revelation 21:5 says, “He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’ Then he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.’”

God is the one seated on the throne. This direct speech comes after John sees “a new heaven and a new earth” (21:1) and “God’s dwelling place is now among the people” (21:3). Although this is future language, it is a promise to you and me. God makes everything new. Similar words come from Isaiah 43:18-19, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”

God is doing a new thing. There will be streams in the wasteland.

Whatever color you are, God will pick up your pieces and make a beautiful picture. How will you let Him use you?  Will you let Him use your life to color something new? Come out of the box. Get ready to be colored with.

Originally published on the author’s blog

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