A Treasure Inside Our Fragile Clay Jars

Lately I've been thinking about 2 Corinthians 4. This chapter talks about the treasure we have in Jars of Clay. Verse 7 says this "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us." It goes on to say this "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; ⁹ persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed"Our treasure that Christ gives us is this: When life sucks so bad that you don't even know where or when you can come up for air because you're too afraid another wave is going to knock you down you have this promise: Your strength comes from God, not you. In the New Living Translation of the Bible this verse says  "but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure." We are fragile, ready to break, but yet, we are filled with the greatest treasure of all: Christ. And even if we don't have nearly enough strength to lift our weary heads and open our clenched fists in surrender, he guides us in the direction that we can. God is the power that holds us up and doesn't allow us to be crushed by the forces weighing down, heavy on your heart. He allows us to be perplexed; uncertain about the future, confused about the pain; but we are still  not in despair. We are persecuted, by forces that hate us for what we believe in, hate us because we have peace, but we are not abandoned. We are struck down, abused over and over again, but we will never be destroyed. Our power to endure comes not from us, but from Christ.  

So when you are pressed on everyside against a wall and you can't move and the space is getting smaller, you are crushed beneath the weight of pain and your heart begs for a little release, you are confused and uncertain, and you can't stand because of the despair, remember that the power you need for just one more breath is from God, not us. Hold on with all you've got because God is carrying you through this. Take it moment by moment, second by second, all the while looking to God, the one who is orchestrating a perfect plan for your life. You just have to wait and see.