“We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves” (2 Cor. 4:7 NLT).

Sometimes I feel like an empty, broken container with nothing left to offer anyone. Maybe I’ve stretched myself too thin with commitments, I’m exhausted, or I’m faced with physical, emotional, or mental limitations.

Reality Check. As a writer, I’ve experienced the dreaded “writer’s block.” At times, I’m paralyzed at the thought of approaching a writing project. And the pressure of a deadline or my own expectations just adds to my misery. But whatever the reason for my emptiness or paralysis, I’m well-aware of my limitations and weaknesses.

Promises. I identify with the analogy in God’s Word which refers to us as “jars of clay” (2 Cor. 4:7). But the same verse tells us that we possess a “great treasure” in (our) clay jars. So, when I feel like a cracked, dry pot, I’m often reminded of promises from God’s Word.

Ephesians 1:14 assures believers of God’s “promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance ….”

These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundational words, words to build a life on. If you work these words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who built his house on solid rock. Rain poured down, the river flooded, a tornado hit—but nothing moved that house. It was fixed to the rock. (Matt. 7:24-27 MSG)

Legacy. So, what do we have to offer anyone, especially the next generation?

This treasure–God’s Word in us–offers the legacy we possess as our inheritance in Christ to pass down to the next generation through our faith stories.

Photo/KarenJordan

What legacy will you leave the next generation?

Read more about building legacies in my StoryWriting Studio post here.