The Shredded Artwork

In 2018, the art world witnessed a crazy moment: a Banksy piece called Girl with Balloon sold at an auction for over $1 million. But just seconds after it was sold, the painting began to slide through a hidden shredder built into the frame. Right in front of the audience, half of the artwork was destroyed. But instead of the painting losing value, the piece actually became more iconic. It was renamed Love is in the Bin and it sold again in 2021 for $25 million!

The artwork was more valuable because it was shredded.

And the crazy part is that the artist planned it. It wasn’t an accident that the piece was destroyed, it was intentional. Somehow, what looked like destruction ended up making the piece more valuable than ever before.

There is a moment in scripture that reminds me of the Banksy story. It is found in John 11 when Jesus found out that his friend Lazarus was sick. Everyone expected him to show up and heal him right away. But Jesus didn’t rush. In fact, when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was for two more days. (John 11:6)

When Jesus finally arrived, Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. The people there were heartbroken, frustrated, and confused. Mary and Martha both said the same thing, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” (John 11:21, 32)

But Jesus wasn’t late, he was intentional.

He said, “Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe.” (John 11:14-15)

Then Jesus stood at the tomb and called Lazarus out of the grave, bringing him back to life. (John 11:43-44)

This passage gives us a powerful lesson about God. If Jesus, the master artist, knew exactly what he was doing when He allowed Lazarus to die in order to display His power, then sometimes God will also allow us to go through pain and suffering, not to destroy us, but to shape us into something more valuable.

When we go through the shredding of life it can be easy to get frustrated, impatient, and even mad at God. But in these moments, it is important to remember the truth that God works all things together for the good of those that love Him and are called according to His purposes. (Romans 8:28)

Just like the shredded artwork, our brokenness doesn’t reduce our worth. In God’s hands it actually increases. So today, remember that the delays, the disappointments, and the heartbreaks aren’t wasted. Even though they feel like destruction, they could be the very things that God uses to create something more valuable in you. What feels like a setback is actually a setup for something greater.

The Bigger Picture: Sometimes, the masterpiece isn’t finished until it’s been through the shredder.