30 Days of Deeper (Day 29)

For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. 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 4:6-7

There was a time in my life when I put a lot of effort in keeping my sin well-hidden.

Heaven forbid anyone know my past, the shameful things I did as a teen or even worse sinful patterns that followed me into adulthood.

I spent so much energy trying to save face, look the “christian” part and appear to have my act together. I had an overwhelming fear that if people knew the “real Becky” with my “real-time” struggles, my credibility would be shot and no one would ever take my love for Jesus seriously.

I’m not sure if these beliefs are remnants of old-southern religion or lessons my mom didn’t mean to teach me, but beliefs they were indeed. And if we are being honest here, I still struggle against them today.

But according to good ol’ Paul, our broken places are the good stuff and our cracks and imperfections have great purpose.

The Light of Christ is in you, believer. The Light of the World, the same light that broke the DARKNESS, yes like the Genesis 1:3 light that made this black earth bright and sunny, LIVES IN YOU. (read that again because it’s awesome)

And the broken places of our lives allow this God-Light to pierce through, like streams of LIVING COLOR, bringing HOPE and AWE to those around you.

God needs your cracks because they prove to the world that YOUR POWER IS NOT YOUR OWN. But you have been restored, healed and mended by an ALL POWERFUL GOD.

So think about your own cracks that you wish weren’t there….

a current difficult marriage
a divorce
living with anxiety
battles with food
a history of wild partying
promiscuity either present or past
abortion
eating disorder
alcohol abuse
anger and bitterness
an estranged relationship
an affair
any addiction

I could go on. You know the cracks.

Well, let me set the record straight today…. “a beautiful treasure is contained within you – a cracked pot made of earth and clay – so the POWER OF GOD may be revealed” to those who may NEVER see the Light of Christ otherwise. And you may feel “cracked and chipped from your afflictions on all sides, but you are not crushed by them!”

Have you noticed that?

You. Aren’t. Crushed. By. Them.

SO LET YOUR CRACKS BE OF USE. No more shame. Be done with embarrassment. Your brokenness is beautiful, purposeful and can be used by God to display His glory.

Today, take one brave faith step today towards embracing your fractures. Even if that means a simple prayer thanking God for your imperfections. These places of gaps and repair allow great Light to break forth, making your life a Light show of brilliant, heavenly color.

And this, beloved, makes you even more beautiful.