https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Do You See What I See ~ Elevation Worship
…This is what the Lord says to you: “Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.” ~ 2 Chronicles 20:15 NIV
What do you see when you look at this picture? Art for a “Handle with Care” or “Fragile” poster. Permission to get new plates. Help with eating smaller portions. Broken relationships. Pain and scars. All of these are valid. I see a tagline and it read: “But God.”
I have had friendships and relationships that looked just like that plate: broken, separated, not put back together. Sadly, I allowed too many to stay that way. Some, however, I refused to let go and went back to God again, and again, until He changed the situation, me, or both, and made us stronger than ever.
How do we get from shattered to strengthened? Years ago, I read a story about Eastern European vase-makers. They create paper-thin vases and paint each one by hand. When the paint has dried, they pass it off to the next person, who drops the fragile vase into a metal box where it’s shattered into hundreds of pieces.
Why do you think they make the vases so fragile, then paint them, only to drop them? Why did Joseph tell his brothers, who intended to harm him, “Do not be afraid,” (Genesis 50:19). Why did Jahaziel say to King Jehoshaphat, “Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army,” (2 Chronicles 20:15). Why did Jeremiah say to the people of Israel, “Do not…be terrified by signs in the heavens, though the nations are terrified by them,” (Jeremiah 10:1). Because they knew victory was on the other side.
The vase-maker takes the broken pieces of the vase and then, painstakingly, glues the pieces back together. Why? As Paul said, “For when I am weak, then I am strong,” (2 Corinthians 12:10 NLT). When you break your leg or arm, the broken bone heals and is not likely to break again in that same place because it’s stronger after it’s been broken. The same is true with the vase. The vase-maker glued the broken pieces together but didn’t just leave them that way. Like Christ works all things for our good, the vase-maker covers the glue with gold paint to accentuate the strengthened places.
All the men who had encouraged others knew something about the situation:
· Joseph: but God intended it for good, (Genesis 50:20).
· Jahaziel: the battle is not yours, but God’s, (2 Chronicles 20:15).
· Jeremiah: But God made the earth by his power; he founded the world by his wisdom and stretched out the heavens by his understanding, (Jeremiah 10:12).
As soon as we understand that “but” negates everything prior to that word, then, though our situation looks bleak, with no hope, God comes in to heal, strengthen, and accentuate the strengthened places. Because He’s no respecter of persons, what He’s done for others in the past, He’ll do for you in your present and future.
When you’re feeling defeated and think things are hopeless, remember:
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever, (Psalm 73:6 NIV).
©Heather Potts 2023
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