Jars Of Clay

Read

2 Corinthians 4:7 “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 “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. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Think

Why would anyone boast about their weaknesses? In a world obsessed with power and success, it seems completely backward. But Paul, a brilliant and influential leader in the early church, did precisely that. The church in Corinth had been swept up by a group of “super Christians” who seemed to have it all together. They were polished, impressive, and looked like winners. And in a culture like that of Corinth, where success was everything, these people fit right in. Statues and plaques lined the city, celebrating achievement. Weakness and vulnerability? There was no room for that.

But Paul didn’t fit their image of success. He wasn’t wealthy or impressive by the world’s standards, yet he had something they didn’t: a deep understanding of God’s power in weakness. In 2 Corinthians 4, Paul describes us as “jars of clay”—fragile, ordinary vessels used in ancient times as lanterns. These clay pots were thin, and because of their fragility, more light could shine through them. Paul is saying that our weaknesses—our struggles, our imperfections—are the very things that allow God’s light to shine through us. When we stop pretending that we have it all together, God’s power shines even brighter.

We all have cracks in our clay pots. Maybe it’s a marriage that’s struggling, feeling like you’re not the parent you wish you were, or carrying the weight of shame that you can’t seem to shake. But Paul’s message reminds us we’re not supposed to be flawless. We’re supposed to be vulnerable, broken vessels carrying something far greater than ourselves—God’s light. And it’s in our weakness that his strength is most visible.

What if the very thing you see as your greatest flaw is what God wants to use for his glory? What if the cracks in your life are where his light shines the brightest? God isn’t looking for perfection; he’s looking for willingness. In your weakness, his strength is made perfect. So, let the light shine through your cracks. Let God’s power be seen in the places where you feel the most fragile.

Apply

Take a moment to identify one area of weakness in your life, and instead of hiding it, offer it to God in prayer, asking him to use it for his glory. Then, trust that his strength will shine through, even in your vulnerability.

Pray

Heavenly father, help me to trust you with the areas of my life where I feel most vulnerable. Let your strength shine through my weaknesses and use them to bring glory to your name. I surrender them to you, knowing that you can turn them into something beautiful. In Jesus’ name. Amen.