His light shines in our hearts…

Happy Easter weekend, Y’all! This is a time of year that I love for so many reasons. First off, it occurs during my very favorite season. Madeline was only four days old on her first Easter two years ago, so it brings so many sweet memories to mind for me in that perspective. I also love the weather this time of the year. I love how colorful everything is getting. I love the gorgeous blooms everywhere. Everything feels to show of newness, and can’t that seem like just what we need after coming through the winter season? I know it is always a fresh feeling that brings a sense to beginning again. This brings me to my absolute favorite part of Easter: Jesus Christ my Savior who died and rose again. A love so great and unimaginable that I find myself saying, Lord, how could you love me this much?! That is my favorite part of Easter that carries on with me throughout the entire year, not only this weekend and on Sunday. 

I decided that this weekend would be a good one to share this post I have been thinking of for quite some time now. There are some things that I read in Scripture, and I become drawn in to the awesomeness of what I’m reading. All I can think of is just how long ago this was written, but goodness is it ever so prevalent in our lives today. This passage gets better and better for me each time I read it. The passage is 2 Corinthians 4. I think about Paul writing this as he kept his faith and trust in the Lord, knowing that his God was bigger than everything going on in his life. I’m just going to share a few verses from this passage with y’all and how I’ve thought through them. I hope they touch you in a way as they have touched me. 

2 Corinthians 4:6

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

I think about this light. The very one who created the universe and spoke light into existence is the same one who fills my heart with light…just enough of it to show me the light I need for the step of life I’m currently on. Light always overcomes darkness. Think about it! When light shines into a dark room, the light will always overcome the darkness therein (John 1:5). When I allow God’s light into my life, I instantly feel a beacon of hope and guidance take the place of any dark and uncertain area. I am so thankful for the his light that shines in my heart, the light of the one who died for me. 

2 Corinthians 4:7

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

I absolutely love this verse. I think of the little things that happen in my life. Little things that happen here and there as they bring me encouragement, and I know they were sent from God. They are always reminders to me that God is bigger than everything going on in my life. These little instances that occur are more like God whispering to me “Everything will work out and is in my hands. You just wait.” I think back on this time when I was about half-way through my pregnancy. I remember dealing with some personal things that had me so torn and all I wanted to do was sleep as I felt so hopeless. I remember sitting there in Madeline’s nursery, crying out to the Lord. It was at that moment that the most beautiful sun light I have ever seen flooded her room and shone on her crib. I felt a sense of hope and knew that everything would be okay.  I think back on it, and it still brings me comfort today. That is just an example of the power of God working in my life that I have hidden away in my heart. I have stored it in “jars of clay” as it always tells me of the power of God.

As I was reading this, I was curious as to why Paul spoke of clay. I decided to do a little bit of research myself, and what I found out is so interesting. I was reading about it as it is used for pottery and found out that it can be stored for long periods of time. It never goes bad! I read that long ago Chinese potters used to store clay in jars for their next generations to use. With just a little water added, the clay is good to go again! How true is that to our lives?! I can be feeling so down and with just a little water (i.e. praying, reading Scripture, etc.) I will feel renewed. And as far as storing “treasures” in “jars of clay”? I will hold on to these instances in my life for years and years to come.

2 Corinthians 4:10

We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus. so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.

This just makes me continue to think about how grateful I am for my Savior. He died for me, so that I may have the gift of eternal life. I strive to show the life of Jesus through my life. He is alive and he is right here with us, working in our lives for our good and his glory. We may not always understand what he is doing but it is such a comfort to know that he lives…he is my light and my salvation and the stronghold of my life (Psalm 27:1). I want to always carry around his death in my heart, knowing that I’m saved through the blood of Jesus Christ yet show that he lives and is just as powerful now as he was in Paul’s life years ago. 

 2 Corinthians 4:15

All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

I think about things happening in my life. I will pray for specific things, situations or people. I will see them being answered in the littles ways and can’t help but give all the thanks and glory to God. I am constantly reminded that God cares about every little thing in our lives. Nothing is too big and nothing is too small for him. I have several close people in my life who I know I can trust and always depend on to pray about things with me. When I see them answered, even in the smallest ways, I can’t help but tell those praying with me as well. This is just an example of how the grace of God can reach more and more people, ultimately giving him all the glory.

2 Corinthians 4:17-18

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 

Wow! That’s all I can say when I read this and the power of the message these verses give. I can only imagine the day when I get to see Jesus in heaven, face to face. Our eternal glory with him will far outweigh so much that goes on in our lives here on earth. Though he died for us, he lives! We may not be able to see him physically, but we must fix our eyes on him (what is unseen) and remember that he is the stronghold of our lives. 

I thought this weekend would be a great one to share my thoughts on this passage that I have enjoyed so much. To wrap things up, I just want to say how a relationship with my living Savior has changed my life. Though he is unseen, I know he is there and I fix my eyes on him. The little things he does throughout my life that I “store in jars of clay” continue to bring me comfort today, tomorrow and for the years to come. He lights my path with just enough light for the current step I’m on. I give thanks to him for the many ways he is working things out for me and Madeline. Even through I may not fully understand at times, I trust in him as I know he is working things out for our good and his glory. I am so thankful for my living Savior. He is risen!

Happy Easter, Y’all!

Delightfully Yours,