Of Thorns & Clay

“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” - 2 Corinthians 12:9

His strength is made perfect in our weakness.  I have come to learn that our infirmities, while unpleasant, are a gift from God that cause us to rely heavily upon Him.  And because of our weakness, it becomes clear that it is the work of God within us and not we, ourselves.  Scanning scripture, apart from Jesus, I am hard-pressed to find anyone used more mightily by God than Paul, who had his own thorn in the flesh (2 Cor 12:7).  Even Moses had a speech impediment that he felt disqualified him from speaking on behalf of God.  We, who are similarly encumbered, are members of an uncomfortable, yet privileged group to be entrusted with a thorn to be used for His glory. 

Father, I lift up the dear one reading this before You.  We admit that we despise pain.  We shun and pull away from things that hurt us.  But Lord we offer ourselves before You today.  We are only lumps of clay.  You have put Your Spirit and the image of Christ within us.  Carve away what does not look like Your Son.  Remove the layers of our flesh that prevent Your light within us from fully shining.  Be with us in our pain and weeping.  Comfort us as we grieve the loss of parts of our sinfulness that we still looked upon with a measure of affection - weaknesses and idols we loved in secret.  

Help us, Lord.  It is so painful to to remove our hands from where You are working, to expose areas of death and decay to the penetrating strokes of Your scalpel.  Be with us in the shaping.  Be with in the fire.  Burn away all that is not of You.  May our lingering thorns turn glorifying eyes away from us and toward Him to whom all glory is due.  And may we emerge as something of beauty and usefulness in Your kingdom - a broken pot whose brokenness, remarkably, becomes a window through which Your light shines into the darkness.  In Jesus Name ❤️

Dear friend, have you believed the lie that your brokenness disqualifies you from being used meaningfully by God?  Nothing could be further from the truth!  If we appear perfect, we receive glory for work that is done by God.  We are not designed to hold the weight of honor that is due Him.  Our role is to be a signpost to point to where honor truly belongs.  Let Him use your brokenness to point all glory to Him.  💡

If you have been encouraged or challenged, please repost and further His kingdom!