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

Many of our anxieties spring from our daily weakness and our limitations as humans. The Bible recognizes that we are weak, but it points us to a hopeful and perhaps surprising reason for this. In today’s verses, the apostle describes circumstances that are filled with great stress while also reminding himself of the purposeful working of God’s power within him. Read them again.

Christians are jars of clay; we are common vessels—earthen pots. People who live with disabilities may be more acutely aware of this truth, but all of us experience infirmity. Yet within us dwells something else—the hope that is found in Jesus Christ. This treasure— the gospel—takes up residence in weak, fallen people who know that they need the Lord. Our neediness means that “the life of Jesus may also be manifested” through us. Since our struggles provide opportunities for us to glorify God, we may welcome our weakness as we train (and retrain) ourselves to cling to the promise of his enduring presence. 

The psalmist reminds us that “the Lord . . . knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust” (Ps. 103:13–14). God knows our weaknesses. Why? Because he made us this way—out of dirt. He engineered confines into our “hardware” (our bodies) and “software” (our souls) to train us to rely on his sufficiency, not on our imaginary self-sufficiency. He did this so that we would crave life beyond this life: eternal life with him.

Yet Jesus did not come to provide only eternal life. He came that we also “may have life and have it abundantly” in the here-and-now ( John 10:10). The hope that we have in Christ cannot be extinguished. We don’t have to succumb to the slave driver named anxiety. There is an inner peace available from Jesus that is found nowhere else: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” ( John 14:27).

We are embodied spirits who have weaknesses and limitations. We will continue to be so until death, when our spirits will vacate our weakening shells. Until then, the Lord will help us learn to fight the fear and inner restlessness that we call anxiety, by laying hold of our future hope. One day, at the resurrection, we will receive new and imperishable bodies that will leave all our weaknesses behind (see 1 Cor. 15:52).

Do you welcome or reject your weaknesses? Consider how the life of Jesus can be made manifest in your struggles even now.

—Paul Tautges, author, Anxiety