In old Jewish culture, people would put precious purfumes and expensive oils in jars made from clay. These liquids where used only on special occasions, and times of high importance or urgency. But the problem was that these jars were sealed shut after the content was poured in, to keep it safe. So now the only way to get the oil out to use it, was to brake the jar open. There was no screw-on lid for use and re-use. It had to be broken completely to get the good stuff out.
Kenya was our first country we visited and even since day one I have been seeing the way I react in situations when I got umcomfortable or irritated. And I was surprised to see my shameful behaviour- even if it was just in my thoughts. And these situations seemed to increase since we were no longer in a very comfortable space. We were staying in tents, in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by wilderness and then there weren’t 24 hours that passed without it raining. Usually these things wouldn’t crack me, but mix it with things like seeing the same faces every single day, sharing every meal, every seat and every toilet and shower and things can get a bit grungy between people.
Every time I would feel irritated or upset about something I would get so frustrated with myself, because I didn’t want to be influenced by my circumstances so easily. So every time someone would ‘krap in my slaai’, I would knash my teeth harder and ball my fists, just not to lash out all fury on the poor soul who took the last bit of Oats. I tried countless times to control myself and my frustration out of my own strength. But resistance was futile and before I could say ‘these Jedi mind tricks’ I found myself making a sassy remark about someone’s behaviour.
In this past time I realised more and more the importance of letting go, of giving up, of being weak and broken. Because in our own might, we will never be able to stand against the trials and tribulations the world has instore for us. Even if it is just your seat being taken . And that concept has almost lost it’s power in the ears of believers.
We’ve lost the revelation and the amazing epiphany that we do not have to do anything to be able to overcome every and any curve ball the world can throw. In fact, the quicker we give up, the quicker we accept our brokeness, the easier it is for Jesus in us to come out, and handle the situation for us.
“But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.”
2 Corinthians 4:7-10
I now know that giving up quicker my futile attempts so that the person, who actually knows what He is doing, can do what needs to be done, spares me so much time and effort.
The quicker I accept my brokeness, the easier the precious oil (Jesus and His life made manifest in me), can flow out and bless the situation or person in that moment. We withold the precious oil because we think being broken is wrong, and weak, which is absolutely true, we are broken and weak! But God isn’t, which is true even more so!
Let go. Give up. Let Him.
It’s so much easier.
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