What is fragmented cannot be filled
‘He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.’ — Colossians 1:17
‘For by continence we are bound up and brought back together in the One, whereas before we were scattered abroad among the many.’ — Augustine
Life has been so busy recently.
My wife and I are in the midst of a transitional time. We’re selling our home, she’s looking for a new job, we’ve had three weddings in three weeks (so much joy, yet so little sleep) and now with the World Cup starting, I have an overwhelming amount of football to watch.
Okay fine, that last one doesn’t really count (but it’s definitely coming home this time...).
But when life inevitably gets busy, I can so easily let myself become thread-bare, as a myriad of things pull me in different directions.
As my calendar starts to get fuller, I start to get emptier—and sadly, I’m prone to looking to things other than God to fill me up again.
My screen-time goes up.
My eating habits get worse.
My focus becomes more self-centred.
My time with God grows more hurried.
My love for Him and others starts to grow cold.
But instead of accepting Jesus’ invitation to come away with Him and rest (Mark 6:31), I still choose to go elsewhere—selfishly and stupidly thinking that other things will be able to satisfy and sustain me.
Inevitably, they never do.
What is fragmented cannot be filled
Recently, on my commute, I noticed a mug that had smashed on the pavement. Thankfully, it didn’t look like it had been the fanciest mug in the world (no offence to Wilko mugs). But it had once served a purpose, and now, as it lay in strewn pieces across the street, it could no longer do so.
As I stepped over the shards, I sensed God say to me, ”What is fragmented cannot be filled”.
When I allow my attention to be pulled in multiple directions, my heart soon becomes divided. Rather than being wholly devoted to Him, it becomes partially devoted to Him and other things too.
As I get pulled apart by distraction and cracks begin to form in my life, my love for God and for others seeps away—meaning that, like that broken mug on the pavement, I'm unable to fulfil my ultimate purpose.
What is fragmented—what remains divided unless Jesus first gathers it back together—cannot be filled.
My fragmented gaze cannot be filled with God’s glory if my eyes keep darting away to other things.
My fragmented heart cannot be filled with delight in God if I keep prioritising my love for other things.
My fragmented life cannot be filled with God’s fullness if I keep avoiding Him and trying to find ultimate satisfaction in my phone, fridge and other things that aren't Him.
How foolish I am.
And yet, how merciful He is.
Becoming whole again
Jesus also knew exactly what it’s like to be extremely busy and tired.
He had so many demands placed on Him by so many different people, all the time. The crowds followed Him everywhere, to the point where He and His disciples didn’t even have time to eat (Mark 6:31). Jesus was almost constantly teaching, travelling, healing and serving throughout his ministry as he prepared to go to the cross.
But through it all, He never became fragmented.
His Father always remained His first priority. He got up early to be with Him before the dawn (Mark 1:35). He was a whole person—so complete with the fullness of the Spirit’s power and love that He was able to serve God and others perfectly, day in and day out.
And here’s the amazing news: this life is available to us. If you believe in and belong to Jesus, you have the same Spirit living inside you, who gives you everything you need to live as Jesus did (1 John 2:6).
In his work Confessions, Augustine talks about the idea of continentia: the grace-empowered gathering together of our fragmented desires and reordering them to be centred on God.
So, when we recognise that we’ve become fragmented from our busyness, distraction and sin, the Spirit graciously draws our scattered attentions and divided hearts together, so that we can become whole again in Jesus.
As He does this, we can experience His love, joy and peace again. And just like He did and still does today, we can pour ourselves out in love for the sake of others.
We can only be whole when we’re in Him.
So, if you, like me, are feeling fragmented right now—turn around and come to Jesus.
Come to the One who fills and holds all things together in perfect wisdom, power and love.
Let Him draw you back together and make you whole in Him again, so that He can fill you to overflowing with Himself.
Thanks so much for reading.
Love,
Theo