But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us (2 Cor. 4:7).
If you were to peek in the Langebartels’ home, you might see two little boys awake at 5:55 a.m., interrupting their mother’s Bible/coffee time. You would quickly notice the endless diaper changes and half-folded loads of laundry lying around the house in baskets. There are fights to break up, books to read, five sets of teeth to brush, and 64 ounces of yogurt to consume every week. Quite the adventure over here!
It is our privilege and honor to provide a home for three foster-to-adopt kiddos (ages 5, almost 3 and 1), along with our biological kids (ages 4 and almost 3). Many days Bryce and I feel the reality of being a clay jar: fragile, human, nothing special, easily broken. Yet, the truth of the Treasure, the “divine Light of the Gospel” (AMPC), still shines through (despite us, most days). It is only by His Power, not ours.
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted [pursued, hard driven (AMPC)], but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed (2 Cor. 4:8-9).
Hard pressed, perplexed, hard driven, struck down—does this not describe parenting some days? We break up many (many!) fights, remove a mini dare devil from the kitchen table top (again), keep trying unsuccessfully to potty-train a two-year-old, and work around a steady flow of therapist and case worker visits. Clinging to Jesus is imperative! We are not taken to the point of complete crushing or despair—just enough to recognize we truly need Him! We choose to journey with bravery and perseverance on behalf of these children only because of Jesus. His character sustains us: faithful, fortress, hope, refuge, rock (Psalm 62:5-8).
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 be revealed in our mortal body (2 Cor. 4:10-12).
Sometimes living every day life with Jesus feels a lot like dying and we see the upside-down, heavenly Kingdom at work again: life from death, hope from despair, beauty from ashes (Isaiah 61:3). Their story is one filled with sadness and rough bits, but our three kiddos are flourishing—just watch the five-year-old jump in a pile of leaves for the first time or listen to the two-year-old sing a “Jesus Loves Me”/“B.I.N.G.O.” medley or join in the dance party to worship music in the living room. We are dying to ourselves daily over here (and it’s not always pleasant or easy) but the life of Jesus is sustaining and saving and supplying all we need . . . all glory to Him!
Read more Langebartels' family adventures over on Jana’s blog: www.grantedgrace.blogspot.com.