Job 10

“Remember that you made me from dust— will you turn me back to dust so soon?” (Job 10:9, NLT)

Job was in the pit of despair where nothing made sense. God had created him, but for what purpose? Did He just make Job to hunt him down like a lion and destroy him? Job pled with the LORD to remember that he was only made from dust.

This is good for us all to remember. I think sometimes we expect more of ourselves than we are capable of performing. The older I get, the more I realize just how fatigued I can get. I would like my body to do more than it is willing or able to do. I become frustrated with my own weaknesses and failures. But is God surprised? He knows our frame and remembers that we are made of dust.

The truly amazing thing is that He breathes the breath of life into this dust. He animates us by His Spirit. He uses us to accomplish more than we would ever think possible. But the secret is to know that we are nothing and can do nothing apart from Him. On the other hand, we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us!

“But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.” (2 Corinthians 4:7, ESV)

Believe it or not, your weakness is by design. God hides in your jar of clay the treasure of Christ. His power is perfected through your weakness. His grace is sufficient for you. When God uses you, despite your weaknesses, then others see that the power if from God and not from you. And guess what. That gives other people hope that God can use them as well!

So don’t let your weaknesses frustrate you. Rather ask God to give you fresh grace today to use your weaknesses for His glory. Yes, you are made of dust—a cracked clay pot. But you have a treasure within that reveals the surpassing power and glory of God!