In Japan, there is a centuries-old art form called kintsugi, which means “golden joinery.” It involves repairing broken pottery by mending the cracks with lacquer mixed with powdered gold. Rather than hiding the flaws, kintsugi celebrates them, transforming broken pieces into something more beautiful and valuable. Kintsugi reminds me of what happens when God comes into our lives: He heals and binds up our wounds, not with gold, but with the blood shed on Calvary.

Isaiah 64:8 declares, “Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay; you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.” Just as a potter patiently shapes and reshapes clay, God takes the broken pieces of our lives and restores us. He doesn’t discard us because of our scars. Instead, He makes us new, weaving His mercy and grace into our story.

The Bible also tells us in Psalm 147:3, “He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds.” Through Jesus Christ, our cracks and scars are not marks of failure but reminders of His redemption. His sacrifice on the cross fills our brokenness with eternal hope and purpose. What’s more, the process of restoration—though often painful—is a testament to the love of a God who never gives up on us.

As I prepare to serve the Japanese people, I see how the message of kintsugi can connect with their culture and point them to Christ. The beauty of brokenness restored parallels the hope we find in the gospel—that through Jesus, even the most shattered lives can be made whole.

Imagine introducing the Japanese people to a God who doesn’t just mend their brokenness but transforms it into a masterpiece through His love. Will you join me in sharing this message? Your monthly support will help take the eternal hope of the gospel to Japan, a nation longing for renewal in the hands of the Potter.

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