When brokenness strikes, it can feel impossible to know what to say or how to ask for help. Whether that brokenness is due to hard circumstances, an unexpected diagnosis, or the pain of a relationship ending, when we are hurting, all we want to do is retreat.
But it’s in these dark seasons when we need a community to lean on the most. How do we find the strength to reach out when we are battling some of our worst moments? What can we offer our friends who we know are hurting? And can God still use us even when the brokenness never seems to fade away?
My guest today is here to offer clarity and guidance around these questions. Toni Collier is the founder of a global women’s organization called Broken Crayons Still Color. She helps people process through brokenness to get to healing and hope.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
- How to find healing from brokenness
- Common myths we believe about our pain
- The power of having people who will sit with you instead of trying to fix you
- And more!
Toni’s story is full of so much brokenness and pain. Yet, in spite of those circumstances, she has found healing and comfort. Her experience is proof that even the darkest seasons don’t last forever.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- Connect with Toni on her website, Instagram, or Facebook
- [BOOK] Brave Enough to Be Broken: How to Embrace Your Pain and Discover Hope and Healing
- [BOOK] Don’t Try This Alone: How to Build Deep Community When You Want to Hide from Your Pain
- The Hopeful Woman Course
- As a thank you for listening, get your 3 free eBooks.
My Key Takeaways:
1) Normalize brokenness. We can have a tendency to hide when we are hurting. To the world, we have it all together, but on the inside, we don’t know how we are going to get through another day. Instead of hiding our brokenness, it’s important to normalize it. In doing this, we can avoid suffering in silence and start supporting each other.
2) God provides for us in our pain. I can’t tell you the number of times a friend has shown up right as bad news broke in my life, or dropped off food without prompting in some of our darkest seasons. The Bible says that “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted…” (Psalm 34:18 ESV). He cares about what we are going through and offers us comfort and presence when we are hurting. Often, it’s the small acts of kindness shown to us in low moments that remind us this is true. Can you remember any examples of this in your own life?
3) Stop trying to do this life alone. Toni shared about the importance of having a community that is willing to sit with us in our pain and brokenness. This supportive community doesn’t need to offer solutions or try to fix the problem. Instead, they simply need to come alongside one another and offer support where they are at. We can tend to want to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps and muscle our way through our current trials. But God did not intend for us to go through life alone, nor is it good for our souls. If you cannot find that community on your own, consider checking out Toni’s Hopeful Woman Course.
About Toni:
Toni Collier is a speaker, podcast host, author, and founder of Broken Crayons Still Color, a global women’s organization committed to helping others find healing. Her books include Brave Enough to Be Broken: How to Embrace Your Pain and Discover Hope and Healing and Don’t Try This Alone: How to Build Deep Community When You Want to Hide from Your Pain. Toni will always claim her Texas roots, although she currently lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with her two children.
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