Fragmented, Yet Still Standing
This morning, as I often do, I went for my usual nature walk. These walks are more than exercise for me — they are a spiritual practice, a quiet space for reflection, prayer, and listening. Nature has a way of speaking if we slow down long enough to notice.
As I walked through the park, one tree stopped me in my tracks.
Its branches were torn apart. The bark was split open in places, visibly damaged. You could see where a storm from a few weeks ago had violently passed through, leaving its mark. One large branch had been cleanly removed, carefully detached by the gardener responsible for the park, allowing the tree a chance for new and healthy growth.
And yet… the tree was still standing.
Strong. Upright. Deeply rooted. Surrounded by other trees.
Standing there, I couldn’t help but think about fragmentation not just in trees, but in people.
When Life’s Storms Fragment Us
In my work as a nurse, Christian minister, coach, counsellor, and now studying psychology and mental health with a focus on clinical and counselling psychology, I have learnt a great deal about how trauma can cause emotional and mental distress.
But beyond the qualifications, I have learnt this through lived experience.
Life brings storms.
Relational breakdowns.
Marital challenges.
Financial pressure.
Health crises.
Job insecurity.
Bereavement and grief.
Disappointment and loss.
These storms don’t pass through us gently. They can leave us feeling fragmented; parts of ourselves broken off, emotions scattered, our sense of identity shaken. Sometimes we hold it together outwardly, while inwardly we feel split, overwhelmed, or disconnected.
The Bible reminds us that suffering is not foreign to the human experience:
“The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all.” (Psalm 34:19).
Rooted in the True Source
What struck me most about that tree wasn’t the damage; it was the roots.
Despite the storm, despite the broken bark and torn branches, the tree remained deeply rooted. That is what kept it standing.
Jesus speaks directly to this in John 15:
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)
Storms may break branches, but what sustains life is remaining connected to the source.
As a Christian, I believe our deepest strength comes from our Creator, through His Spirit at work within us. When we remain rooted in Christ through prayer, Scripture, and honest relationship, we draw strength, grace, and hope that go beyond our own capacity.
The apostle Paul echoes this rootedness:
“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him.” (Colossians 2:6 -7)
We Heal in Connection
I also noticed the tree was not standing alone. It was surrounded by others.
Healing rarely happens in isolation. Just as branches are supported by a wider ecosystem, we too need safe, supportive relationships:
Church and faith communities
Medical and mental health professionals
Coaches, counsellors, and mentors
Family and friends who speak life, encouragement, and truth
Scripture affirms this:
“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2)
Pruning for New Growth
The broken branch had not been left hanging dangerously. It had been carefully removed by the gardener.
Jesus again speaks to this process:
“Every branch that bears fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” (John 15:2)
Pruning can be painful, but it is purposeful. Sometimes healing requires letting go of unhealthy patterns, beliefs, or relationships to make room for renewal.
In my own life as a wife, a mother to an adult child and two teenagers, navigating faith, family, and calling, there have been seasons where I felt fragmented. Yet through God’s Word, prayer, professional support, and the care of others, I experienced healing and freedom.
Not because the storm didn’t matter, but because it didn’t have the final word.
Still Standing
Fragmentation does not mean failure.
You can be wounded and still rooted.
You can grieve and still grow.
You can be healing and still whole.
The prophet Jeremiah writes:
“Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord… They will be like a tree planted by the water, that sends out its roots by the stream.” (Jeremiah 17:7–8)
If life has left you feeling broken or scattered, remember this: being fragmented does not mean you are finished.
Remain connected to the True Vine.
Stay rooted.
Seek support.
Allow safe pruning.
Like that tree, you may carry scars, but you are still standing.
If you’re navigating a season of emotional, spiritual, or mental strain and would value a supportive, reflective space, I offer coaching, pastoral support, and talking therapy conversations grounded in faith, compassion, and evidence-based understanding of mental health.
You don’t have to journey alone.
- Sharon Akpoguma