Cracked Pots

“We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.” 2 Corinthians 4:7

Do you ever feel like a cracked pot? Do you fear that if everyone actually saw you as you really are, they would run away as fast as they can and who could blame them? Do you spend your life covering up your flaws, your scars, your messes so people can’t see all of your yuckiness?

Most of my life has been spent hiding my messiness so people only see what I allow them to view. I chisel a smile in place so everyone thinks I have it all together. I laugh frequently so people think that life is crisis free. When people try to get close I deflect their attention to something else.

Because who in her right mind would want to be friends with me? I am a flawed woman with a messy past and my mess might just spill onto you if you get too close.

But Jesus chooses to get close to me, to all of us, and not only allows our messiness to spill on Him, but takes it willingly so that we can be free from it.

Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose.” God takes our mess and makes something beautiful out of it. Everything we have done can be used to bring God glory and to make us better and to encourage others.

We may have made wrong choices, but God can use those to make us stronger women. He can take our story and help other people in their walk – if we are willing to live it out loud.

God can shine through the cracks in our lives, but only if we’re brave enough to allow them to be seen. If we cover them up, then His light can’t shine through. Our weaknesses make us real. Our victories are more powerful when others view them through our flaws. Because then and only then can people see that it clearly wasn’t us that fought the battle and won. God’s power alone can make us victorious.

I have a group of friends who have dared to let our messiness spill over onto each other, to unveil our flaws, to risk appearing weak so that Jesus can shine brightly through us. The more open we are, the more real we become, and the more we grow in Jesus something extraordinary happens: Instead of our yuckiness, Jesus begins to spill over onto others.

Now that’s amazing…grace.