Every season of life has brought me different favorite verses. So, picking one was not easy for me. A portion of scripture that has really spoken to me lately is in 2 Corinthians 4.
“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body.”
I need to be reminded that in this life, my circumstances are not just always about me. Whatever I am going through, God has a bigger plan with way better results than what I can imagine. I needed to be reminded that I am not crushed, I am not in despair, I am not abandoned, and I am most certainly not destroyed. I can 100% feel the hard press, perplexed, persecuted, and struck down though. Have you ever felt like “Man, when is it going to be my turn for something great?” or “Am I ever going to catch a break?” Transparency: I struggle with self-worth, so I see everything through that filter. These truths help me to remember that I am a child of the one true king, worthy of His love. Worthy enough for Him to treat me like a jar of clay, molded and carefully sculpted so that I can be used by Him in a way that He sees fit.
Why do we struggle as believers? Verses 10 and 11 help to clarify that. So that He can be revealed through us. So that our life is a living testimony.
I am reminded of the Jeremy Camp song that goes like this:
“Savior, worthy of honor and glory
Worthy of all our praise, You overcame
Jesus, awesome in power forever
Awesome and great is Your name, You overcame
We will overcome by the blood of the Lamb
And the word of our testimony, everyone overcome”
As you reflect on these verses, I pray you are reminded of how valuable you are no matter what stage of life you are in.
“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body.”
I need to be reminded that in this life, my circumstances are not just always about me. Whatever I am going through, God has a bigger plan with way better results than what I can imagine. I needed to be reminded that I am not crushed, I am not in despair, I am not abandoned, and I am most certainly not destroyed. I can 100% feel the hard press, perplexed, persecuted, and struck down though. Have you ever felt like “Man, when is it going to be my turn for something great?” or “Am I ever going to catch a break?” Transparency: I struggle with self-worth, so I see everything through that filter. These truths help me to remember that I am a child of the one true king, worthy of His love. Worthy enough for Him to treat me like a jar of clay, molded and carefully sculpted so that I can be used by Him in a way that He sees fit.
Why do we struggle as believers? Verses 10 and 11 help to clarify that. So that He can be revealed through us. So that our life is a living testimony.
I am reminded of the Jeremy Camp song that goes like this:
“Savior, worthy of honor and glory
Worthy of all our praise, You overcame
Jesus, awesome in power forever
Awesome and great is Your name, You overcame
We will overcome by the blood of the Lamb
And the word of our testimony, everyone overcome”
As you reflect on these verses, I pray you are reminded of how valuable you are no matter what stage of life you are in.
Posted in Devotional