Broken.

It's one of those words that doesn't bring a lot of joy. Who wants to be broken? Broken is viewed as a negative word and we typically like to use a different words like wounded, bruised, or hurting. Anything but "broken."

However, we are broken. And that's okay. We are broken but healing. God, the greatest mechanic is fixing all our broken parts.

In 2 Corinthians 4:7 it says "But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us." We are like jars of clay. They crack easily even though they may seem durable. Clay jars are refined by fire. There are several steps to making them, culminating with the kiln. This furnace carries the clay from an unfinished product to a household amenity. But once completed, the slightest nudge on the corner table could send a jar plummeting to its demise. The durability is deceiving. The thick porcelain is more delicate than it appears. No wonder the Bible often describes people as jars of clay. We are like potter’s vessels, waiting to be broken into millions of tiny pieces. We are weak. We get tired and weary. We grow old and frail.

In our areas of weakness we experience tiredness and impatience. This is a reminder that we are a part of a fallen world and a reminder how badly we need a Savior.

But...what if we embraced our brokenness? What if we gained a biblical understanding of what it means to be weak and a jar of clay?

Times of weakness and brokenness point us to the One who never grows tired or weary (Isaiah 40:28). Jonathan Parnell writes, “Embracing weakness brings more peace because we realize that God loves us by his grace, not because we are strong. Our joy doesn’t rest in our ability, but in the approval God gives us in Christ, the one in whom he chose us before the ages began according to his own purpose and grace (2 Timothy 1:9).” Thus said, God doesn't call us to Him when we are strong, but while we are weak; and Christ died for us when we were weak. Brokenness is going to make you stronger.

We are called jars of clay to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us (2 Corinthians 4:7). We are weak, we are frail, we are lame — and yet, we are chosen. We are loved. “God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God” (1 Corinthians 1:28). Our only boast is in Jesus our Lord who is for us, our wisdom, and righteousness, sanctification and redemption. He is our perfect righteousness, who not only meets us in our weakness, but covers our every sin and deformity by his blood.

The brokenness of the jar of clay allows what's inside to be seen. The brokenness of our lives allows God to shine through. Being broken is not such a bad thing. If God is allowing the breaking, He is going to bring us through it. If God allows it, He is going to use it, bring good out of it, and He is going to be glorified.

I challenge you to embrace your brokenness and let God shine through and pour out of the cracks.