Dust & Glory

SCRIPTURE:  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. 2 Corinthians 4:8-11

THOUGHT: The whole idea of “dust and glory” has been swirling around in my mind for months now. I actually wrote a song about it (snippit of lyric below) and continue to work on both the song and the idea that these two very disparate things come together somehow, in God’s amazing plan. We bring the dust (which he gave us, of course), he brings the glory, and it acts like glue, keeping everything from spinning apart (Col. 1:17). At least that’s the way it feels to me.

We are pressed, perplexed, sometimes persecuted, sometimes struck down to our knees. But when we carry around Jesus in our hearts, we carry both his death and his life. So when life hands us the pressing, the perplexing, the unfair, or even a TKO, Jesus gets to show off by revealing his life through us too. The glory shines through all the dust. We aren’t crushed, in despair, abandoned or destroyed. It’s an amazing miracle, come to think of it: not something we do for ourselves, but an otherworldly redemption that leaves us slack-jawed sometimes too!

When best laid plans like sheep have gone
astray a million times, and
Best advice sounds hollow like a silly childhood rhyme
When friends and good intentions
no longer reach your heart and
You feel the very core of you starting to come apart

You are only human, made of dust and fragile frame
Held together by his glory
You don’t have to save the world, just let him be
redeemer of your story, and
Take another step wrapped up in this dust and glory

Amy Clemens, October 20, 2023

PRAYER: Oh God, thank you for glory around all the dust. Help us not be anxious about the pressing, perplexing, unfair, or worse, but remember that you will also show off your life in us – the most powerful life force in the world.