“The picture of cracked vessels with treasure shining through the cracks is a picture of being filled. . . . God doesn’t always fill your cracks but often uses your cracks to fill you up with a sense of his presence, grace, and glory.”- Paul David Tripp
“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 4:7 (NLT)
As Paul David Tripp continues Chapter 12 of Suffering, he discusses four reasons to hope in the middle of our suffering. The author covers the first reason today.
1. We suffer because we live in a broken world. This means the painful things we deal with aren’t the result of some bad accident or horrible luck. Furthermore, these painful things don’t indicate a massive failure of God’s plan. Instead, Scripture presents suffering as a normal experience of living in a broken world.
In addition, the picture painted by 2 Corinthians 4:7 depicts us as fragile vessels. God didn’t create us to be independently strong. Rather, through our fragility, God can accomplish something good. Pastor Tripp explains:
“Hope for the sufferer is rooted in the fact that they’ve not been singled out or forsaken but that what is painful has a purpose. If suffering has a purpose, then there is reason to believe that good things will come out of what doesn’t seem good.”
Finally, what this broken world produces in us is far better than the comfortable life we all desire. So, in our suffering, God isn’t saddling us with less. He’s graciously giving us more.
Today’s question: How is God’s treasure shining through the cracks of your life? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “The grace of rescue and transformation”
