“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.”

Missions, or starting a movement in another culture, is a crazy concept when you think about it. Maybe not from the surface, but when you look in depth for what it means to attempt real change, when you’re on the ground in the middle of market with about ten words that you can semi-pronounce and a grocery list….you can’t even get shopping done some days, yet your vision is to breathe life into the world!

Both living in Haiti & working from America for Haiti and missions have only shown me more as time goes on exactly how much of a fragile, clay jar that I am. Cracked and easily shattered, there is no way I can hold anything or accomplish my very purpose on my own.

But that’s where the praise comes in. The power, the accomplishments, even the purpose burning passionately as desires in my heart – they are not from me. They are from Him, and done in His power.

Hard pressed? You bet, and I can teeter so closely to feeling crushed when I don’t remember where I’m from. Perplexed? You bet – I can only follow about 1/5th of conversations around me! But I am not in despair….because it is Him working in me.

That’s what mission is, friends. It’s not about the fragile jars, but the radical power working through them.

 

Stephanie Taylor is a career partner with CPR-3. She is finishing raising support and partnering with people for her next 5 years in Haiti.