Mind the cracks

Mind the cracks. That’s where the light gets in.

 

Our little church is little. We’ve had struggles (though many of those happened before our time with this family). We have weathered challenges and grown strong.

It’s hard to live through times like these.

But it’s also cleansing.

Purifying.

Uniting.

In recent months, we’ve started receiving words about Gideon. As we read the Word, we find ourselves in the pages of Gideon’s story. The story comes to life. As we pray, the words keep coming back. The story resonates, resounding in our common consciousness.

As we speak, we discover: we are not alone. Many of us hear it.

“The LORD said to Gideon, “You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into their hands, or Israel would boast against me, ‘My own strength has saved me.’”

– Judges 7:2

God is winnowing us. Like Gideon’s army before the battle against the Midianites, there were too many. Now, there are few enough.

When the victory comes, it’ll be the Lord’s.

“I’m writing to encourage you to fan into a flame and rekindle the fire of the spiritual gift God imparted to you when I laid my hands upon you. For God will never give you the spirit of fear, but the Holy Spirit who gives you mighty power, love, and self-control.”

– 2 Tim. 1:6&7 TPT

As I meditated on these words, I saw the hills surrounding the Midianite encampment. Darkness blanketed the scene as God’s people inched their way to the hilltops all around.

Silently, each person placed his or her clay lamp in place.

Without a sound, every lamp was lit.

All at once, each jar was broken, and the light streamed out.

All around the Midianites, 1,000 lights or more – more than all the Hebrew soldiers sneaking into the enfolding cloak of night – blazed into the heavens. The enemy was surrounded. Their courage failed, and they fled for their lives.

The light of the victors shone out, declaring their victory!

But first, the jars had to crack and break.

And then I saw it: the clay jars holding the light? Those were our hearts. All cracking. Aching. Breaking.

Letting out the Light within, for all the world to see.