Jesus Shines Through Our Cracks

Jesus Shines Through Our Cracks

Broken jars of clay. If you have spent any amount of time in this world, you will feel it. We get bumped and banged up in this life, and these earthen vessels that we are, crack, chip, and break. What good is a broken jar of clay? Whatever is in it, just spills out. But if you put a light in it, then it becomes a lamp. The bigger the openings, the more light comes through illuminating the space around it.  

Jesus is the light of the world. (John 8:12) We are broken jars of clay. If we invite Jesus inside our vessels, we then become lamps. The light of Jesus shines within us and spills out through our cracks onto the problems we face and the people we encounter. “We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” (2 Cor. 4:7) The fissures life has left in us, small and great, are given a purpose. To be lamps illuminating the darkness.  

I found myself at a point in time feeling very insufficient, focusing on my many cracks. Cracks of inability. Cracks of brokenness. Cracks caused by my own sin. And lots of cracks caused by the damage done to me. I was getting discouraged by the multitude and magnitude of the insufficiencies of my brokenness. But GOD is teaching me to stop looking at the jagged edges of my cracks, and instead, look to the openings they have created, small and big, and be on the lookout! Searching the gaps for where Jesus will show up and shine through.   

Now it’s a treasure hunt! When I’m feeling unable, exhausted, insufficient, unqualified, overwhelmed, etc., it’s like, Ok Jesus, which crack are You going to show up in and shine through today? His power is made perfect in my weakness. (2 Cor. 12:9) Now the cracks that made me feel so broken, are the very thing that let Jesus shine through. So, the bigger the cracks, the more Jesus can shine through! May God open my eyes to see where He is shining through my cracks and filling my gaps with His glorious light, spilling out and illuminating the situations and relationships around me. 

And it gets even better. Not only does Jesus shine through our cracks and give them purpose, that we may comfort others with the comfort we have received (2 Cor. 1:4), He is making all things new. (Rev. 21:5) In Japan, a broken piece of pottery is not thrown away, but repaired. And they fix it in a special way; infusing the cracks, chips and breaks with gold lacquer. The result is that the repaired piece of pottery is more valuable than the original. Are we trying to hide, cover up, fix with our own insufficient power, or pretend our cracks never existed in the first place? Or are we going to allow our cracks to become lamps for Jesus? I urge you to cooperate with the Holy Spirit sanctification work that is adding immeasurable value to us until the day of completion, when all our cracks and breaks are repaired with gold.

Next time you are feeling insufficient and fully broken, instead of being discouraged, use the opportunity to delightedly search the gaps and be on the lookout for where Jesus is going to show up and shine through the cracks!