One of the profound mysteries of the Christian life is how God can use broken vessels (like you and me) for his glory—often taking our weakness and brokenness to display his power in us. We all have a “thorn in the flesh” or handicaps. Perhaps you are parenting a child with special needs? Or struggling with an addiction that the Lord didn’t heal right away, and you are having to remain vigilant for the rest of your life and need to participate in recovery groups regularly? Or you’ve endured an abusive past and carry the scars on your soul? Or a relational wound that finds you in bouts of anger, resentment, hatred, or judgmentalism? Or you’re a widow or single person prone to anxiety, depression, isolation, and loneliness? Or physical brokenness like physical disability? Or Chronic disease?
Whatever it is, God can heal and redeem it. It’s not only the victories and strength in our lives that display the surpassing greatness of God. It’s oftentimes our weakness and brokenness that display God’s glory and goodness. You can say our handicap is a “gift” so you can lead out not in spite of your brokenness but from it – not for your own strength but God’s.
But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.
2 Corinthians 4:7
God’s specialty is using broken vessels or cracked pots to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.
There once lived a water carrier in India. He used two large pots for his task. He suspended a pole across his neck and attached a pot at each end of the pole. One of the pots had a big crack in it while the other pot was perfect. The perfect pot always delivered a full portion of water from the stream to the master’s house, while the cracked pot arrived only half full each day.
For two years, this water carrier made the same journey. The perfect pot became proud of its accomplishments. The cracked pot was ashamed of its imperfection and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do. Finally, one day by the stream, the cracked pot spoke to his owner about his bitter failure. “I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize that I have only been able to deliver half of my water to your house. There is a crack in my side, which causes water to leak out. Because of my flaw, you don’t get full value for your efforts.”
Then the water carrier replied, smiling, “As we return to the master’s house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path.”
On that trip from the stream, the cracked pot looked around.
“Did you notice there are flowers only on your side of the path, but not one on the other pot’s side?” the carrier commented. “That’s because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we passed these spots, you watered them. Now for two years, I have been able to pick those beautiful flowers to decorate my master’s table. Without you being just the way you are, I would not have this beauty to grace his house.”
From a cracked clay pot to cracked, imperfect lives we bring to God our best, and it is enough. It is the way God works. He uses us, broken creatures that we are, for His glory and for purposes known only to Him.
7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 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 of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:7-10