For it is God, who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the world. Walk as children of light.
2 Corinthians 4:6-7; Matthew 5:14-16; 1 Peter 2:9-10; Ephesians 5:8
Wow! The Lord is taking me on an incredible journey right now. Many places in this journey have brought deep pain and darkness. They have also driven me to the Savior, the source of all comfort and light.
I have been thinking a lot about His light, praying that He will use my brokenness to shine His light on those around me.
I pray that He will allow His light to shine out of my broken places, but all the while I hide my brokenness. Over the last few days, He has been gently showing me that His light can only shine through the breaks and cracks in my heart if I let the broken places show.
It all clicked and made sense this morning during my quiet time with Him. As He lead me from one passage of Scripture to another, it hit me. He has given us His light, and given its treasure abundantly, in earthen vessels. Clay pots. Clay pots are not strong. They crack, they chip, they break. We are like clay pots. We are not strong. We break. But, when we break, when our hearts crack and pieces fall out and sometimes get lost, it is then that His light can shine through. But only if we let it! If we, in fear and insecurity, hide those broken places, hide our own weakness, we are like one who would light a lamp and then hide it under a basket or under the bed.
It is hard to let the brokenness show. It's scary, terrifying really. Human nature, instinct, tell us it is bad to be weak. We fear what others will think. I have a tendency to feel as though others see me as the strong one, the one who has it all together, and I'm hard wired to please. I fear that, if I let my weakness and my broken and cracked and shattered heart show, I will disapoint, I will let someone down. I will appear less than I am thought and expected to be. But hiding my weakness, my broken places, hinders God's light and power from shining through! It is in my weakness that He is shown to be strong. It is when I allow my brokenness to be seen that His healing power is also seen. When those around me are allowed to see that I am not strong they will be able to see His strength, His sustaining grace, His peace that passes all understanding. It is then that they will see His power and glorify Him. And that is what this life with Jesus is all about, bringing Him glory and allowing His light to shine through us into a dark and dying world.
