--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our life is full of brokenness - broken…" description: "\"Our life is full of brokenness - broken relationships, broken promises, broken expectations. How can we live with that brokenness without becoming bitt..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/595/henri-nouwen-600_becoming_our-life-is-full-of-brokenness-broken-re_1623868.png" --- # Our life is full of brokenness - broken relationships… ![“Our life is full of brokenness - broken relationships, broken promises, broken expectations. How can we live with that brokenness without becoming bitter and resentful except by returning again and again to God's faithful presence in our lives.” quote by Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/595/henri-nouwen-600_becoming_our-life-is-full-of-brokenness-broken-re_1623868.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/595/henri-nouwen-600_becoming_our-life-is-full-of-brokenness-broken-re_1623868.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/595/henri-nouwen-600_becoming_our-life-is-full-of-brokenness-broken-re_1623868.png) > “Our life is full of brokenness - broken relationships, broken promises, broken expectations. How can we live with that brokenness without becoming bitter and resentful except by returning again and again to God's faithful presence in our lives.” [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human brokenness is inevitable, but returning to God's faithful presence prevents bitterness and fosters healing. **In simple terms:** Brokenness is part of life; God’s presence heals it. Key Takeaway Seek God’s presence to heal brokenness. Themes brokenness faith healing resilience spirituality Mood hopeful contemplative empathetic Type spiritual philosophical comforting When to use this quote - grief counseling - spiritual retreats - personal reflection - community support Key Concepts theology psychology suffering Questions to Reflect On - How can one find healing without religious belief? - What practices help transform brokenness into growth? A Different Perspective May not address practical steps for those without religious faith. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Broken promises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/broken-promises/) [Broken relationship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/broken-relationship/) [Broken relationships](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/broken-relationships/) [Brokenness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brokenness/) [Expectations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expectations/) [Faithful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faithful/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Promise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/promise/) [Promises Broken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/promises-broken/) ## Related quotes > [This lifeless heart..your love had brought it alive.and then it was your love,that made it distraught.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/destiny-dreams/this-lifeless-heart-your-love-had-brought-it-alive-and-then-it-was/) [Destiny Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/destiny-dreams/) > [“The lack of dating and romance in marriage is one of the major causes of broken relationships. Marriages usually don't collapse overnight. They become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mlungisi-simelane/the-lack-of-dating-and-romance-in-marriage-is-one-of-the-major-causes/) [Mlungisi Simelane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mlungisi-simelane/) > [Angry people want you to see how poerful they are . loving people want you to know how perful you are](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/angry-people-want-you-to-see-how-poerful-they-are-loving-people-want/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The road of love is narrow and long, that's why so many people living with a brokenhearts /broken relationships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-road-of-love-is-narrow-and-long-that-s-why-so-many-people-living/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [All broken relationships can be traced back to broken agreements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/all-broken-relationships-can-be-traced-back-to-broken-agreements/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [“It’s easier to treat people properly than to repair broken relationships.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-sonnenberg/it-s-easier-to-treat-people-properly-than-to-repair-broken/) [Frank Sonnenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-sonnenberg/) > [Broken relationships are a source of heavy heartbreak that seem to affect every family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-b-jenkins/broken-relationships-are-a-source-of-heavy-heartbreak-that-seem-to/) [Jerry B. Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-b-jenkins/) > [Of all sad words of tongue and pen the saddest are these, it could have been.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/of-all-sad-words-of-tongue-and-pen-the-saddest-are-these-it-could/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Rebuilding bodies is one thing… rebuilding trust is quite another.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-paknadel/rebuilding-bodies-is-one-thing-rebuilding-trust-is-quite-another/) Alex Paknadel > [The hardest part of broken relationships is the REGRETS which are left with us forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-hardest-part-of-broken-relationships-is-the-regrets-which-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [After realising your worth, it's easier for you to say goodbye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-ceaser/after-realising-your-worth-it-s-easier-for-you-to-say-goodbye/) [Evan Ceaser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-ceaser/) > [I'd rather have a thousand broken relationships than have a broken Marriage!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-d-rather-have-a-thousand-broken-relationships-than-have-a-broken/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Its not always about trying to fix something thats broken. Some relationships and situations just cant be fixed. If you try to force them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/its-not-always-about-trying-to-fix-something-thats-broken-some/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [APOLOGIZE. It brings healing, provides closure, and frees your mind. A simple apology can open up peoples heart again, which in return, can also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-lahart/apologize-it-brings-healing-provides-closure-and-frees-your-mind-a/) [Stephanie Lahart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-lahart/) > [Never hide secrets from your best friend because sometimes it leads to broken relationships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-hide-secrets-from-your-best-friend-because-sometimes-it-leads/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Henri Nouwen > [We are not the healers, we are not the reconcilers, we are not the givers of life. We are sinful, broken, vulnerable people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/we-are-not-the-healers-we-are-not-the-reconcilers-we-are-not-the/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [The more we touch the intimate love of God which creates, sustains, and guides us, the more we recognize the multitude of fruits that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/the-more-we-touch-the-intimate-love-of-god-which-creates-sustains-and/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [Feelings of guilt dominate our work as peacemakers we cannot last long. But when we have opened each other's eyes to the great human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/feelings-of-guilt-dominate-our-work-as-peacemakers-we-cannot-last/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [...we all want to hear stories, from the moment we are born to the moment we die. Stories connect our little lives with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/we-all-want-to-hear-stories-from-the-moment-we-are-born-to-the-moment/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [I have found it very important...to let go of my wishes and start hoping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/i-have-found-it-very-important-to-let-go-of-my-wishes-and-start-hoping/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [Simply being with someone is difficult because it asks of us that we share in the other's vulnerability, enter with him or her into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/simply-being-with-someone-is-difficult-because-it-asks-of-us-that-we/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [Somewhere we know that without silence, words lose their meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/somewhere-we-know-that-without-silence-words-lose-their-meaning/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [Jesus says, "Keep your heart on the kingdom first. Keep your heart on God's love. Keep focused on the fact that you are God's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/jesus-says-keep-your-heart-on-the-kingdom-first-keep-your-heart-on/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [This sounds very simple and maybe even trite, but very few people know that they are loved without condition or limits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/this-sounds-very-simple-and-maybe-even-trite-but-very-few-people-know/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [“The more preoccupied we are with security the more visible the force of death becomes, whether in the form of a pistol beside our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/the-more-preoccupied-we-are-with-security-the-more-visible-the-force/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [If you feel a great loneliness and a deep longing for human contact, you have to be extremely discerning...and ask yourself whether this situation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/if-you-feel-a-great-loneliness-and-a-deep-longing-for-human-contact/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [I choose L'Arche; L'Arche chooses me. I would be dead if I weren't here. I need people to love me and care for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/i-choose-l-arche-l-arche-chooses-me-i-would-be-dead-if-i-weren-t-here/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [The truth, even though I cannot feel it right now, is that I am the chosen child of God, precious in God's eyes, called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/the-truth-even-though-i-cannot-feel-it-right-now-is-that-i-am-the/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [In a world so torn apart by rivalry, anger, and hatred, we have the privileged vocation to be living signs of a love that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/in-a-world-so-torn-apart-by-rivalry-anger-and-hatred-we-have-the/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [Where true inner freedom is, there is God. 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