Broken Vessels

BROKEN VESSELS

By:  Julie Souza Bradley Lilly

“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” – 2 Corinthians‬ ‭12:9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I have come to learn that my infirmities, while unpleasant, are a gift from God that cause me to rely upon Him.  They make clear, that anything of value is the work of God within me, and not me myself.

Scanning scripture, apart from Jesus, there are few 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. Like Paul and Moses, we too, are mere lumps of earth —broken jars of clay.  And we can falsely believe that our brokenness renders us unusable by God.

He is the potter.  We are the clay.  We may feel broken beyond hope, but He has put His Spirit and the image of Christ within us.  Today He calls to us to come and be transformed.  Beloved, will you trust Him?  Will you allow Him to skillfully carve away what does not look like Jesus?

Lord, we want to be useful in Your hands, but we are fearful of pain and we clutch at our wounds.  Help us to trust You!  Help us to relax in Your hands and be still as You work.  As You carve away what does not fit the image of Christ, may we not grieve what falls away, but embrace the joy of lightness and unexpected freedom.  Be with us in the shaping.  Strengthen us in the fire.  Burn away all that is not of You.  And may we emerge as something of beauty and usefulness in Your hands —a broken vessel whose brokenness, remarkably, becomes a window through which Your light shines into the darkness.  In Jesus’ Name ❤️

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