Weaving Beauty from Brokenness

How God works in life’s chaos

Jon Reddick

I’ve often been asked, “Why do you believe in Jesus?” It’s a question I’ve spent a lot of time reflecting on, and here’s what I’ve come to see: over the course of my life, He’s been weaving this incredible thread. Imagine a patchwork of yarn, random and messy pieces that don’t seem to fit together. But when you step back, you see the bigger picture—a masterpiece. That’s what He’s done with my life.

As a kid, I didn’t realize the thread was there. I loved spending time alone, creating. My dad would say, “You’re just like your son; you can sit by yourself for hours.” That was me—alone in my room, drawing, painting, or figuring out music. I remember my first attempt at recording. I’d take a tape recorder, sing into it, play it back, and then record over it on a second tape recorder. The sound quality was terrible, but to me, it was magic. I didn’t see it then, but God was already using those moments to prepare me for something greater.

Even in that mess, there was this quiet sense that God had plans for me.

When I was ten, my parents divorced, and that shattered my world. I was stuck between two homes, two cities, and two versions of life. It left me angry and confused. Deep down, I felt like maybe I had done something wrong. That’s what shame does—it plants lies in your heart. I spent so many years trying to figure out how to navigate life in a broken home and a broken world.

But even in that mess, there was this quiet sense that God had plans for me. I’d grown up hearing how God watches over us, how He has a purpose for our lives. And even though I’d look around at my chaotic situation and think, “This is a mess, God,” I couldn’t completely shake that belief.

God’s Faithfulness in the Midst of Chaos

It was hard to trust in those plans, though. I moved nine times during grade school, always the new kid, always starting over. I’d walk into classrooms where everyone had known each other for years. I just wanted to belong, to find my place. Instead, I felt like I was constantly scrambling to catch up.

When you’ve seen brokenness, you recognize it in others.

We were living through poverty and constant change. It was chaos. But looking back, I see how God allowed me to come close to things that could have destroyed me. I had friends who didn’t make it out of those places. They’re not here to tell their stories. But God wouldn’t let me stay there. He let me get close enough to see the danger but kept pulling me back, and I know that’s only because of Him. That’s why Proverbs 22:6 resonates so deeply with me: “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” It’s not that we don’t wander; it’s that what’s planted in us eventually brings us back.

God used those years to teach me empathy. When you’ve seen brokenness, you recognize it in others. You want to connect, to listen, to understand. That’s what He’s done for me. He’s given me this desire to hear people’s stories and share mine in return. Whether I’m writing a song, leading worship, or painting, that connection—that understanding—is always there.

A Turning Point of Trust

I remember the day things started to change for me. I’d been kicked out of my second school, and I saw my mom crying for the first time. She looked at me and said, “What am I going to do with you?” That broke something in me. It was like God whispered, “Remember the plans I have for you.” I had nothing left but Him.

God’s taken the brokenness and turned it into something beautiful.

Not long after, I started going back to church. I began singing again, and something shifted. People would come up and say, “Is that John? Singing church songs?” It was surreal, but it felt right. God was using my voice to tell His story—a story of love and redemption that could reach people no matter where they were.

When I look back on my life now, I see the thread God has been weaving all along. It wasn’t always clear, and there were times I felt like the pieces would never fit. But He’s taken the mess, the brokenness, and turned it into something beautiful. If you’re in a season where you can’t see the bigger picture, trust that He’s working. He’s weaving something extraordinary, even in the chaos.

Jon Reddick, a worship pastor and songwriter with a passion for creating music that speaks of redemption, hope, and unity, grew up in Memphis, Tennesse, where music was woven into his life from the start. His writing reflects a deep desire to bridge divides across racial, cultural, and generational lines, drawing people together under one faith. From leading diverse choirs to penning songs that resonate with congregations worldwide, Reddick’s work invites people to experience God’s healing and connection through worship.

Now focused on his own music, Reddick blends his talents as a songwriter and visual artist to share his faith in creative ways. His debut single, “You Keep Hope Alive,” even features his artwork as its cover. With years of leading worship, touring, and fostering transparency in worship, Reddick sees his role as a conduit to help people reconcile with God and one another. His songs are an invitation to hope, healing, and unity through the power of Christ.

https://www.jonreddickmusic.com/

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