2 Corinthians 4 verse 7 (The Voice): But this beautiful treasure is contained in us—cracked pots made of earth & clay… And the same verse from The Message: (you might hear an echo back to the story of the shell in my vision experience) If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That’s to prevent anyone from confusing God’s incomparable power with us. As it is, there’s not much chance of that. You know for yourselves that we’re not much to look at.  (Emphases in all quotes are mine) 

In the New Living Translation of the Bible, the phrase used for ‘cracked pots’ is ‘fragile clay jars’. Are you feeling a bit fragile or cracked today? Do you fear that you might crumble under the weight of the busyness, the cares, stresses or worries in or around your life? I believe that the words the Holy Spirit inspired the Apostle Paul to write next (verses 8-10 in 2 Corinthians 4) will be of great comfort to you. They seem like a promise to me…

We are cracked & chipped from our afflictions on all sides, but we are not crushed by them. We are bewildered at times, but we do not give in to despair. We are persecuted, but we have not been abandoned. We have been knocked down, but we are not destroyed. We always carry around in our bodies the reality of the brutal death & suffering of Jesus. As a result, His resurrection life rises & reveals its wondrous power in our bodies as well. (The Voice)

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. (1 Peter 5:7 NLT) He is powerful, tender-hearted & nothing is impossible for our God who hears you & sees you. Let the Spirit of Jesus Christ hold you & care for you in harmony with the Father’s heart. His loving-kindness never ends. Allow the Holy Spirit to take you into ever deepening intimacy of relationship with Jesus who is one with the Father—our Daddy who is in heaven. And remain in community with your brothers & sisters. God has saved you into relationship… not into a life of isolation. 

And how does God care for us, His children? Each of us could give testimony of how we have felt urged to pray for someone. We will also have equally powerful, life-changing stories of how we seemed to be a part of God’s answer to those same prayers. 

Watch & wait & see what He will do. Let go & let Him be God. Trust Him to be God & be at peace.

God is faithful so… let us have thankful hearts & praise Him from whom all blessings flow. It is He who said “Let there be light in the darkness,” & made this light shine in our hearts so we could know His glory that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:6 paraphrased)

Heather Henson — 24th August 2015