Today I want to turn the diamond to look at another facet. We all, called of our Father, are gems to reflect Light. And how the Master Jeweler causes us to radiate His Light and Life is through deep cuts in our core. In my last three posts, I’ve focused on how key formative relationships can mold our entire lives. Purposely God uses painful situations to chisel us, making from our wounds Light-catching facets. In this post I want to explore how these formative wounds can be bound to our life’s calling to bring forth His Life. How from the scars of our crippling, He can shine the Light of His glory.
There’s a Plan revealed in each of our wounds. God is not a sadist just inflicting random hurts. And sure, I have to make peace with His choices and ways. I don’t know a single person that didn’t somehow think they knew better than God at one point or another. I think if we saw His comment/suggestion box, we would see it’s always full. But He is not constrained within our unwitting instructing of Him. God sees the whole and is not daunted by the moment. This for me is both horrifying and comforting at the same time.
There is a Method to what I’ve called madness. I’ve never managed my weaknesses, nor successfully lived out my calling by pulling myself up by my bootstraps and running at it as hard as I can. Sure, I have tried and probably will do it again shortly, because I am forgetful. But God continually assures my returning to Him by the very dynamics He devised. He is calling forth from my weaknesses the manifestation of His strengths—a dependent state indeed. At the end of my days, I will look Him in the face in utter wonder at how He could bring Glory through my complete weakness.
Who is weak without my feeling that weakness? Who is led astray, and I do not burn with anger? If I must boast, I would rather boast about the things that show how weak I am.
2 Corinthians 11:29-30
God loves weakness because that is my place of need. Though my flailing scares me to death, He sees it as enviable. When I have no aces up my sleeve, when I have no trap doors of escape, when I am positionally helpless, THEN I have only one recourse—HIM. Yes, I know He designs this whole thing for dependence. I’ve fought this tooth and nail; actually, we all have since the Garden. We didn’t like that state of dependence then and we don’t like it now. But only in that weakness is His Life manifested. I believe, with all my heart, that when I produce what looks like Life, it actually is death. God rises from ashes, not mastery.
Jesús les Bendice. Si Su Palabra Es Revelada en mi…, ViVo, si no estoy muerto. Gracias damos a Dios por todos ustedes. <
“Jesus blesses you. If His word is revealed in me, I live. Otherwise, I am dead. We give thanks to God for all of you.”
“from the scars of our crippling, He can shine the Light of His glory.” WOW!!!!
I needed the challenge of this devotional this morning, John…thank you for your weakness…His light shines through it gloriously!
“God rises from ashes, not mastery.” Truth for me to walk in today as I remember it is All Jesus! Thank you John for these marvelous words of encouragement..
There is a balm in Gilead
To make the wounded whole
There is a balm in Gilead
To heal the sin-sick soul
Sometimes I feel discouraged
And think my work’s in vain
But then the Holy Spirit
Revives my soul again
Don’t ever feel discouraged
For Jesus is your friend
And if you lack of knowledge
He’ll ne’er refuse to lend
If you cannot preach like Peter
If you cannot pray like Paul
You can tell the love of Jesus
And say, “He died for all”.
How rare a gem you are John…
Bless you
Thank you Tammy
Thank you John!