Kintsugi and God’s Restoration

I recently read an article about Kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery using gold. NBCNews reporter Tiffany Ayuda interviewed Candice Kumai, an international chef and author of Kintsugi Wellness: The Japanese Art of Nourishing Mind, Body, and Spirit, who shared her discovery of how understanding Kintsugi could reimagine our lives after challenging times. Instead of discarding broken pottery, like bowls, cups, vases, or plates, the artisan will mend the crack with gold, which makes the pottery even stronger than before the break. Kumai shares the metaphor, hoping to change the post-trauma “I’m inadequate and defective” mentality. This technique of pottery preservation figuratively translates as a form of turning scars into something beautiful.

Where we live…

Whether our self-sabotaging methods broke us or we were victimized by someone else’s behavior, we can be restored by God’s grace, which is freely given to us. According to The New Strong’s Expanded Dictionary of Bible Words, grace (charis and charitoo) is “the divine influence upon the heart and its reflection in the life” of a believer. (Strong. 1451, 1452) By seeing our injuries through the lens of grace after a stressful season, we regain stability, soundness, and renewed confidence in ourselves and our Father. I’m a witness.

If you need help, it’s a good idea to talk to a therapist; mostly, speak to our loving Father. Both will help process the pain. Ultimately, the Divine Potter (Jeremiah 18.2-6) will mend all the broken pieces. Like Kintsugi, allow the supernatural golden threads of grace - His divine influence - to adhere to the cracks and add luster to your deep magnificence.

You are not damaged goods. You are valuable!

*Influenced by Grace

“He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.” Ephesians 1.5-6

*Promised Restoration

"Instead of your shame you will have double. Instead of dishonor, they will rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their land they will possess double. Everlasting joy will be to them." Isaiah 61.7

"Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me." Psalm 51.12

*Talk to Jesus. He always wants to talk to you.

“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4.14-16

*Be filled with hope.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” Romans 15:13

*We are complete.

“For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness.” Colossians 2.9

*No need to bow over in shame. We stand with Jesus.

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.” Roman 5.1-2

Ayuda, Tiffany. “How the Japanese Art of Kintsugi Can Help You Deal with Stressful Situations.” NBCNews, 28 April 2018, https://www.nbcnews.com/better/health/how-japanese-art-technique-kintsugi-can-help-you-be-more-ncna866471

Strong, James. “Grace.” The New Strong’s Expanded Dictionary of Bible Words, 2001.