Like Peanut Butter and Jelly: A Paradoxical Pairing of Power and Weakness
In the intricate tapestry of Christian faith and the dedicated service of God’s kingdom, certain elements are presented as naturally complementary, forming pairings that resonate with established, familiar combinations. Just as one might instinctively pair peanut butter with jelly, or peas with carrots, the scriptures and the experiences of faithful servants reveal divine pairings that, while sometimes expected, can also be surprisingly paradoxical. While the Apostle Paul’s instruction to “speak the truth in love” offers a foundational and anticipated pairing, other divinely orchestrated combinations in ministry offer profound insights into effective service. This article will explore one such central, yet counter-intuitive, pairing: God’s surpassing power and human weakness or brokenness.
The Paradox of Power in Weakness
Aspiring to effectiveness in God’s work naturally leads us to recognize and seek God’s power. We pray for powerful words, tangible demonstrations of divine intervention, miracles, and conversions. These are all indeed powerful outcomes of God’s work. However, the scriptural perspective, particularly evident in the writings of the Apostle Paul, presents a crucial paradox: God’s exceeding, surpassing power is most clearly displayed through our human weakness and brokenness.
Paul articulates this principle in his letter to the Corinthians, describing believers as possessing the immense treasure of the gospel within “jars of clay”. This vivid metaphor underscores the fragility and ordinariness of the human vessels that carry the invaluable message and power of God. This is not presented as an unfortunate limitation, but as a deliberate divine strategy. The reason given is explicit: “to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us”. Our inherent brokenness and limitations, therefore, are not necessarily obstacles to God’s power but can become the very conduits through which His power is made evident.
Paul’s Personal Illustration of the Principle
Paul’s own life and ministry served as a powerful, living illustration of this pairing. In 2 Corinthians 4, he describes the constant pressures and hardships he faced: “We are afflicted in every way but not crushed, perplexed but not driven to despair, persecuted but not forsaken, struck down but not destroyed”. He speaks of “Always carrying in the body the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies”. This is characterized as a “radical declaration of what it means to serve God in the world today”. It stands in stark contrast to any notion of “easy believism” or a “cheap grace” that focuses solely on the benefits of following Christ without acknowledging the accompanying trials and suffering. Preaching the gospel with this realism, acknowledging the difficulties inherent in the path, is unlikely to attract followers motivated purely by personal gain.
To further emphasize the reality of suffering accompanying powerful ministry, Paul provides a stunning and detailed list of his own experiences in 2 Corinthians 11. He recounts enduring “far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death”. Specifically, he itemizes:
- Five times receiving the 40 lashes less one from the Jews.
- Being beaten with rods three times.
- Being stoned once.
- Being shipwrecked three times, including spending “a night and a day adrift at sea”.
- Facing frequent dangers: “from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers”.
- Enduring “toil and hardship and many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure”.
- Beyond all these external trials, bearing the “daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all of the churches”.
After listing such extreme hardships, Paul concludes this section by asking, “Who’s weak if I’m not weak? Who’s who’s broken if I’m not broken?”. This extensive list presents a challenging picture for anyone considering ministry. If Paul were advising aspiring leaders, he would describe beatings, imprisonment, stoning, hardship, cold, and hunger as potential realities. This is far removed from a smooth or obstacle-free path. While God does open the way for the gospel to advance, He does not promise to remove all obstacles; indeed, these challenges seem to accompany the power. The phrases “struck down, but not destroyed” and “perplexed but not driven to despair” indicate that even amidst severe trials and puzzling situations, there is sufficient divine power to prevent ultimate destruction or debilitating hopelessness.
Suffering and Effective Ministry: An Unexpected Pairing
The reality of suffering and effective ministry often going hand in hand is a truth that resonates deeply with those who have served the Lord for many years. It is a pairing that may not feel intuitive, unlike comfortable combinations such as peanut butter and jelly. Yet, accepting this fact is crucial. God has not promised a life of ease or one that is “all roses” simply because we follow Him. There can sometimes be a reticence to acknowledge difficulties, perhaps stemming from a fear of portraying God in a negative light, leading to an overemphasis on strength and well-being. However, scripture, particularly passages like those in 2 Corinthians, presents a more complex and ultimately more powerful, because it is realistic, picture.
This perspective serves as a powerful antidote to the “health and wealth” viewpoint, which incorrectly suggests that faith automatically guarantees prosperity and the absence of hardship. Paul’s experience teaches that God cares for his soul, but this involves crushing and breaking so that the light of the gospel can shine through the “cracks in his life”. This pattern is not unique to Paul; many significant leaders throughout history and even today share similar experiences of wrestling with brokenness alongside powerful ministry.
Examples Across Time and Contexts
Charles Spurgeon, one of history’s most renowned preachers, serves as a poignant example of this pairing. Despite proclaiming a glorious and powerful gospel, Spurgeon struggled terribly with depression. This might seem counterintuitive, as he was a “conqueror” in ministry, yet he wrestled with debilitating “clouds of depression” that could immobilize him. This experience highlights his awareness of his own weakness, his “feet of clay,” even while wielding significant spiritual authority. For those unfamiliar with severe depression, it might be challenging to grasp how such powerful ministry could coexist with such deep personal struggle. However, for those who have experienced both overcoming through Christ and the overwhelming nature of depression, this pairing makes sense.
The principle of power manifesting through brokenness and suffering is not confined to historical figures or prominent leaders; it is a reality faced by believers in various contexts today. The story of a Tibetan man exploring faith in Christ illustrates this contemporary reality. After months of hearing the gospel, he began to show interest, particularly amidst personal brokenness. Recognizing the immense cost he would face in his culture – potential beatings, rejection, loneliness, awkwardness, and humiliation – the missionary openly discussed these difficulties with him. This was not an attempt to dissuade him but to prepare him for genuine, “crossbearing” discipleship. The man ultimately sensed the power and presence of the Holy Spirit sustaining him through the intense opposition he faced upon leaving his former life, demonstrating that the glory of the gospel shines through in suffering. He testified, “I can tell that Jesus is with me. I I can tell… that that he is sustaining me through all of this”. This experience underscores that bearing such hardship would be incredibly difficult without the assurance of the Holy Spirit’s presence.
Another powerful contemporary example is Pastor Wang Ye in China, currently serving a nine-year prison sentence. He was a powerful speaker, writer, and teacher, instrumental in starting a seminary. Yet, his power is seen as multiplying through prayer and suffering in prison. His ability to speak to a broken world is increasing, and his imprisonment becomes another instance of being “crushed… but not crushed”. Through such brokenness, the light of the gospel shines powerfully.
Even in contexts less overtly hostile than China, the principle holds true. The economically impoverished Christians in Cuba are cited as a compelling example. Despite having very little materially, they are experiencing explosive growth and vibrant ministry across the island. Their faith and trust in God for daily needs, coupled with seeing the life of Christ in those helping them, draws others in. These individuals, who possess almost nothing, act like “rich people” in their “rejoicing,” their “love the Lord,” their “cling[ing] to him,” their “thankful[ness] to him,” and their “joy”. Their gratitude for their redemption transcends their material lack, making them people of “powerful joy”. This demonstrates that effective, joyful faith can flourish even in the most economically challenging circumstances, showcasing another powerful and perhaps unexpected pairing.
Advice for Aspiring Leaders
Considering young people who feel called to ministry and are preparing for leadership, it is vital to provide a realistic perspective rooted in these scriptural truths. The Christian life is described as a life of balance and paradox. Concepts like “the least shall be the greatest” and “the first shall be last” are inherent paradoxes in the Christian experience. Just as Peter warned, persecutions and hardships are promised for those who follow the Lord. It would be a mistake not to be prepared for this, not to expect these challenges, and not to recognize the reality of spiritual warfare that accompanies following Christ, necessitating the putting on of the armor of God.
While not everyone in Christian leadership will face imprisonment or overt persecution, significant challenges remain. Even in ministries in places like the United States, leaders can experience lonely places. People may have unbiblical expectations, not anticipating leaders to show vulnerability or “cracks in their armor”. Leaders can be particularly vulnerable and wounded quickly by criticism. Unlike politicians who may become accustomed to criticism, Christian leaders can be oversensitive, leading to being crushed, depressed, or bitter when critiqued. Learning how to handle even the “low-grade levels of rejection” commonly encountered week to week is a significant challenge.
Therefore, aspiring leaders need advice that is both encouraging and realistic. It must convey that following the Lord and serving Him is profoundly worthwhile, despite the potential cost – whether that be beatings, imprisonments, or even subtler forms of rejection and difficulty. Counting the cost, truly understanding what is being signed up for, is crucial. The peace that comes from knowing one is “saved and redeemed and purchased and protected and defended” by God makes it worthwhile, even when the circumstances are rough.
The Foundation for All Good Service
Ultimately, the foundation for all good service in the face of this paradoxical pairing of power and brokenness lies in recognizing God as “my all and all”. These song lyrics express this essential sentiment: “You are my all and all. You are my strength when I am weak. You are the treasure that I seek. You are my all in all”. This deep reliance on God, acknowledging Him as the source of strength precisely in our weakness and the ultimate treasure above all earthly comforts or avoidance of suffering, provides the grounding needed to navigate the paradoxes and hardships inherent in Christian life and leadership. Embracing the reality that God pairs His power with our brokenness allows His light to shine most brightly through us, fulfilling the purpose for which we are called to be “jars of clay” carrying the priceless “treasure” of the gospel.
This article is adapted from the episode transcript.