Cracked Pots: When God Uses Our Weaknesses for His Glory
A water-bearer in India had two large pots, both hung on the ends of a pole, which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water. At the end of the long walk from the stream to the house, the cracked pot always arrived half full. The poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection and miserable that it was only able to accomplish half of what it had been made to do. After two years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the water-bearer one day by the stream: > “I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you. I have been able to deliver only half of my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don’t get full value from your efforts.”
The bearer said to the pot, > “Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the other pot’s side? That’s because I have always known about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you’ve watered them. For two years, I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house.”
Embracing Our Weaknesses This story captures a profound truth: God uses cracked pots—people like you and me who feel imperfect and weak—to accomplish His glorious works. We often think that our flaws disqualify us from being used by God, but He sees our cracks differently. He plants seeds along our path and uses our weaknesses to bring beauty into the world.
> “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” —2 Corinthians 12:9
When we feel like we’re failing or falling short, God is at work behind the scenes, using our cracks to water the seeds He has planted—blessing others and bringing glory to His name.
How We Can Relate to the Cracked Pot Here are five ways we can see ourselves in the cracked pot’s story:
1. We All Have Cracks Like the pot, we carry our own flaws—fears, insecurities, struggles, and weaknesses. But these cracks don’t disqualify us; they’re opportunities for God’s grace to shine through.
2. God Knows Our Weaknesses Just as the water-bearer knew about the cracked pot, God knows every weakness we carry. He lovingly and intentionally uses those weaknesses for His greater purpose.
3. Our Weaknesses Can Bless Others The cracked pot’s leak nurtured flowers along the path, bringing beauty to the water-bearer’s home. Our weaknesses, when surrendered to God, can become channels of blessing to those around us.
4. God is Working Behind the Scenes The cracked pot couldn’t see the flowers it was watering, but the water-bearer had a plan. Likewise, God is always working—often in ways we cannot see—bringing forth fruit from our flaws.
5. His Grace Makes Us Strong It’s not about fixing all our cracks before we can be useful—it’s about trusting that His grace is sufficient. His power is made perfect in our weakness, and He uses even our brokenness for His glory.
God Loves You—Cracked or Whole Know that God loves you so much—unconditionally. Whether you’re cracked or whole, His love for you never changes. I often feel like God cannot use me because of my weaknesses, but sometimes He works through our weaknesses even more powerfully than through our strengths.
Personally, I draw great comfort from the words of the apostle Paul:
> “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me… For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
—2 Corinthians 12:9–10
When fear knocks on the door of your life, let faith answer! Don’t be self-confident; be God-confident—trusting that it’s not your own strength that saves you, but the strength of the One who carries you.
A Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Thank You that You are the Master Water-Bearer who knows every crack in my life. Thank You that Your grace is sufficient and that Your power is made perfect in my weakness. Help me to trust that You are working behind the scenes, using even my flaws to bring forth beauty, growth, and blessing. Give me the courage to embrace my imperfections and to surrender them into Your hands, knowing that You work all things together for my good and Your glory.
When fear knocks on the door of my life, help me to let faith answer. Remind me not to be self-confident but God-confident—trusting in You alone as my strength and hope.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
May we, like the cracked pot, find hope and purpose in our flaws, knowing that God’s grace is more than enough. He uses even our weaknesses to bring glory to Himself.
