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. 2 Cor. 4:7-10
Dear Jesus, to compare my season of duress with the Apostle Paul’s would be like comparing my guitar playing with Phil Keaggy’s… or my photography with Ansel Adams’… or my cooking with Bobby Flay’s. There is simply NO comparison. When I consider everything he experienced as your servant, honestly, I have nothing all that whine-worthy to bemoan or groan about.
Nonetheless, Paul’s honesty is a great gift to me this morning—his freedom to acknowledge both his anguish and his joy in the same paragraph gives me tremendous encouragement and focus. Posing and pretending were crucified at Calvary. Despair and hopelessness were sabotaged by your resurrection.
Jesus, help me to be far more preoccupied with the treasure within than with the pressures without. If your all-surpassing power will be shown most dramatically through my weakness, I surrender to your will. If your incomparable beauty will be most clearly revealed through my hardships, I surrender to your ways. If your redeeming purposes will be most fully realized through my brokenness, I surrender to YOU.
Jesus, with palms up, I offer you praise for the treasure of the gospel. The gospel WILL win the day… my heart… the nations… and the cosmos. Though there are seasons when throwing in the towel, finding another story, or just flat running away are incredibly attractive, where else would I go but to you? You alone give the words of life, the sufficiency of grace and the hope of glory. May your voice be ten times louder than the murmurings around me and the grumblings inside me.
Jesus, in the coming hours, and days and weeks, prove the wonders of your love in our midst. So very Amen, I pray, in your peerless name.