God uses our weaknesses

I love this story I read in "The Emotionally Healthy Church" by Peter Scazzero. He's talking about, "The world treats weakness and failure as terminal. It says, "You are a loser." God says, "This is a universal human experience, cutting across all ages, cultures, races and social classes. It is my gift specially crafted for you so you can lead out of weakness and brokenness, not your own strength and power." My understanding was that God wanted to heal my brokenness and vulnerabilities completely. Few consider brokenness as God's design and will for our lives!"

Here is a story called, Walking as a cracked pot, told in this book.

A story I heard wonderfully illustrates this countercultural truth.

There once lived a water carrier in India. He used two large pots for his task. He suspended a pole across his neck and attached a pot at each end of the pole. One of the pots had a big crack in it while the other pot was perfect. The perfect pot always delivered a full portion of water from the stream to the master's house, while the cracked pot arrived only half full each day.

For two years this water carrier made the same journey. The perfect pot became proud of its accomplishments. The cracked pot was ashamed of its imperfection and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do. Finally, one day by the stream, the cracked pot spoke to his owner about his bitter failure, "I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize that I have only been able to deliver half my water to your house. There is a crack in my side which causes water to leak out. Because of my flaws, you don't get full value from your efforts."

Then the water carrier replied, smiling, "As we return to the master's house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path."

On that trip from the stream, the cracked pot looked around.

"Did you notice there are flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side?" the water carrier commented. "That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we passed these spots, you watered them. Now for two years I have been able to pick those beautiful flowers to decorate my master's table. Without you being just the way you are, I would not have this beauty to grace his house."

It's just the way God works!

Isn't it amazing that God takes what people could consider a handicap and uses it for his glory? We may not feel as talented as someone else or feel like we don't lead as well as someone else, but God may think we are just what He's looking for. Don't let your weaknesses be used to make you feel weak, realize that they may be the best blessing God has given you. "For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Cor. 12:10)!