Jars of Clay

7But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

16Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Reading through the letters to the Corinthians right now. Finished I Corinthians last week and now into Paul's 2nd book to the church in Corinth. Paul lays out what the differences should be in our interpretation of the old and new covenants in chpt 3, and then begins to talk about how we should handle this new covenant in chpt 4. v.7 above really strikes me along with the subsequent verses before the end of the chapter. Paul talks of the temporary nature of our earthly bodies. He speaks of the troubles we will incur, the dangers, that we are pressed on all sides by trouble...but all of that cannot stop the work that God is doing in our lives...It cannot hide the radiance of Christ reflected in us when we are living according to His calling. And the passing of our bodies only furthers the glory for Christ...v.16 "though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed everyday".

My life has been sent into a tailspin here recently. An incredible mixed blessing I think is a good way to put it. And I have been so bent on understanding this situation...where God is in it, why now, where do I go from here? But I am beginning to see that the important thing that has happened to me may not be the "mixed blessing" at all, but more so the tailspin that I currently have found myself in.

1 Peter 5:6-7 -"6Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."

Due time...It's one of those little tricks that God slips in on us. I mean, who knows exactly how long "due time" is...I certainly don't. And as much as I wish He would, it's my guess that God is not going to tell me. See, I get so hung up in the reason for the tailspin, that I miss the fact that God wants me to focus on Him, to humble myself and submit to Him. Instead, I'm arguing about what's and why's and how come's. I'm trying to get my finite mind around something that does not have an answer that I will understand...except to draw me closer to Him. I have been looking for a sign from the heavens...He's been patiently standing with me, waiting on me to notice. I think I'm finally starting to see Him.