Embracing God's Presence in Life's New Norms

Devotional

Day 1: God’s Power in Our Weakness

We are merely clay jars, fragile and imperfect, yet God has chosen to place His extraordinary treasure within us so that it is clear the power at work is not our own, but His. This means that no matter how inadequate or unworthy we may feel, God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness. We are not called to rely on our own abilities or accomplishments, but to humbly recognize that everything we have is a gift from God, given for His purposes. As vessels, we are meant to carry His light and love into the world, not to boast in ourselves, but to point others to the One who fills us. [14:08]

2 Corinthians 4:7-9 (ESV)
"But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed."

Reflection: In what area of your life do you feel most inadequate or fragile? How can you invite God to display His power through your weakness today?

Day 2: Gifts Are Given to Serve Others

Every gift, talent, or skill you possess is not for your own glory or elevation, but is given by God so that you might serve others and bring Him honor. Whether your gift is singing, accounting, ushering, or administration, it is meant to be used for the benefit of God’s people. When we begin to think our gifts make us superior or deserving of special recognition, we lose sight of their true purpose. Instead, let us remember that our gifts are on loan from God, entrusted to us so that we might bless others and glorify Him in all we do. [16:30]

1 Peter 4:10 (ESV)
"As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace."

Reflection: How can you intentionally use one of your gifts today to serve someone else in your community or church?

Day 3: Trouble Is Part of the Journey

Being a child of God does not mean we are exempt from trouble, pain, or hardship. In fact, sometimes the closer we draw to God, the more we may feel the attacks and challenges of life. Yet, the presence of trouble does not mean God has abandoned us. Instead, He equips us with the power to endure, persevere, and keep pressing forward, even when the new normal includes difficulty. Our anointing does not shield us from trials, but it does assure us that God’s power is at work within us, enabling us to overcome. [23:24]

John 16:33 (ESV)
"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."

Reflection: What trouble or challenge are you facing right now? How can you lean into God’s presence and power instead of trying to avoid or panic about your situation?

Day 4: The Divine Conjunction—But God

Life brings affliction, perplexity, persecution, and being struck down, but God always provides a “divine conjunction”—a “but” that changes everything. Though we may be knocked down, we are not destroyed; though we are perplexed, we are not in despair. God’s power steps in to transform our experience, giving us hope and strength to keep moving forward. The reality of our pain is not the end of the story, because God’s intervention always brings a new possibility, a way through, and a reason to hope. [26:40]

Psalm 34:19 (ESV)
"Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all."

Reflection: Where in your life do you need to remember God’s “but”—His power to deliver, restore, or transform your situation?

Day 5: Your Testimony Has Power

Every scar, every mark, every bruise you carry is a testimony to God’s faithfulness and power to bring you through. Just as Jesus bore the marks of His suffering after the resurrection, your life bears witness to the victories God has won for you. Your testimony is not something to hide or be ashamed of, but a powerful story that can encourage others and glorify God. No one can argue with what you have seen God do in your life—so let your story be heard, and let it point others to the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. [36:29]

Revelation 12:11 (ESV)
"And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death."

Reflection: Who is one person you can share your testimony with this week, so they might be encouraged by what God has done in your life?

Sermon Summary

In every season of life, God’s presence is our constant, even as we face disruptions and changes that force us into a “new normal.” Whether it’s a global pandemic, personal loss, or unexpected hardship, our natural desire is often to return to the comfort of what was. Yet, the way forward is not a rewind, but an embrace of the present, trusting that God is with us in every circumstance. The same God who was with us before remains with us now and will be with us in the future. We may not always understand why we are where we are, but we can be assured that we are never alone.

Drawing from 2 Corinthians 4, we are reminded that we carry a treasure in “clay jars”—God’s extraordinary power within our fragile humanity. This treasure is not for our own glory or to elevate ourselves above others, but is given so that we might serve others in humility. Every gift, every ability, every blessing is on loan from God, meant to be poured out in service to God’s people. Our value is not in the vessel, but in the treasure God has placed within us.

However, possessing this treasure does not exempt us from trouble. In fact, the anointing of God often attracts adversity. Trials, disappointments, and suffering are not signs of God’s absence, but opportunities for God’s power to be revealed. Paul’s words remind us that though we are afflicted, perplexed, persecuted, and struck down, we are not crushed, driven to despair, forsaken, or destroyed. This is the “divine conjunction”—the “but” that God inserts into our story, transforming our experience of suffering into a testimony of God’s sustaining grace.

Just as Jesus bore the marks of suffering yet rose victorious, we too may carry scars from our journey, but these become the evidence of God’s faithfulness. Our testimony is not that we have avoided trouble, but that God has brought us through. In the new normal, we move forward not in our own strength, but in the power of God, with a testimony that no one can take from us. Let us give thanks for the treasure, endure the trouble, and boldly share our testimony of God’s goodness.

Key Takeaways

1. Embracing the New Normal with God’s Presence Change and disruption often leave us longing for the past, but God calls us to move forward, integrating what was, what is, and what is to come. Even when we don’t understand why we are facing certain challenges, we can trust that God is with us in every moment. The journey is not about returning to what was, but about discovering God’s faithfulness in the present and future. [06:30]
2. Our Gifts Are Meant for Service, Not Status The treasure God places within us—our gifts, talents, and callings—are not for self-exaltation or personal gain. We are vessels, not owners, and our purpose is to serve others in humility. When we use what God has given us to bless and uplift others, we reflect the heart of Christ and fulfill our true calling. [14:08]
3. Trouble Is Inevitable, But Not Defining Being a child of God does not shield us from hardship; in fact, spiritual anointing often attracts greater challenges. Trouble is a part of life, but it does not have the final word. God’s power within us enables us to endure, persevere, and even thrive in the midst of adversity, transforming our trials into testimonies. [23:24]
4. The Power of the Divine Conjunction Paul’s use of “but” in describing our struggles is a reminder that God always provides a way through. We may be afflicted, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; struck down, but not destroyed. God’s “divine conjunction” changes the meaning of our suffering, turning what was meant for harm into a platform for His glory. [26:40]
5. Testimony: Scars as Signs of Victory Like the resurrected Christ who bore the marks of crucifixion, our scars are not signs of defeat but of survival and victory. The evidence of what we’ve endured becomes our testimony to God’s sustaining power. No one can argue with the reality of God’s work in our lives, and our stories of deliverance are meant to be shared for the encouragement of others.

** [30:01]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:00] - Opening Prayer and Scripture
[02:15] - Reading 2 Corinthians 4:5-11
[04:00] - Embracing the New Normal
[06:30] - Moving Forward After Disruption
[08:45] - The Ted Lasso Example: Belief in Adversity
[10:49] - Choosing the New Normal Over Panic
[12:30] - Paul’s Challenge to the Corinthian Church
[14:08] - The Treasure in Clay Jars
[17:30] - Gifts for Service, Not Status
[20:00] - Treasure Does Not Exempt Us from Trouble
[23:24] - Anointing Attracts Attacks
[26:40] - The Divine Conjunction: “But” God
[28:55] - The Clay Pot and the Death of Jesus
[30:01] - Scars as Testimony
[34:02] - Testify to God’s Goodness
[35:30] - Thanking God for the Testimony
[36:29] - Closing and Benediction

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

2 Corinthians 4:5-11 (NRSV) — > For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
> But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies. For while we live, we are always being given up to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may be made visible in our mortal flesh.

Observation Questions

According to Paul in 2 Corinthians 4, what is the “treasure” that we carry in “clay jars”? What does this say about our own strength versus God’s power?
In the passage, Paul lists several hardships (afflicted, perplexed, persecuted, struck down). What is the “divine conjunction” that he uses after each hardship, and what does it mean? [26:40]
The sermon mentions that our gifts and abilities are “on loan” from God and not for our own glory. How does Paul describe the purpose of these gifts in the passage? [14:08]
What does it mean that we are “always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies”?

Interpretation Questions

The sermon says, “The way forward does not involve a rewind or just reversing to where we were but we've got to keep moving forward...because God is still with me.” How does this perspective challenge the way people usually respond to disruption or loss? [04:00]
Paul says we are “afflicted, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.” What does this teach us about the relationship between suffering and God’s presence? [26:40]
The sermon points out that “anointing attracts attacks.” Why might following God sometimes lead to more challenges instead of fewer? [23:24]
The pastor says, “Our testimony is not that we have avoided trouble, but that God has brought us through.” How does this change the way we view our scars and struggles? [30:01]

Application Questions

Think about a recent disruption or “new normal” in your life. Did you find yourself longing for the past, or were you able to trust that God was with you in the present? What helped or hindered you in embracing the new normal? [04:00]
The sermon says our gifts are for service, not status. Are there ways you’ve been tempted to use your abilities for your own recognition rather than to serve others? What would it look like to use your gifts more intentionally for God’s people this week? [14:08]
When trouble comes, do you tend to hit the “snooze button,” the “panic button,” or the “new normal button”? What would it look like for you to choose the “new normal” and move forward with God’s help? [10:49]
The “divine conjunction” means that even when we face hardship, God inserts a “but” into our story. Can you share a time when God’s power changed the outcome of a difficult situation in your life? [26:40]
The pastor said, “Our scars are not signs of defeat but of survival and victory.” Is there a scar or struggle in your life that you’ve been ashamed of, but could actually be a testimony to God’s faithfulness? How might you share that story to encourage someone else? [30:01]
The sermon encourages us to “boldly share our testimony of God’s goodness.” Is there someone in your life who needs to hear your story of how God has brought you through? What’s one step you can take to share your testimony this week? [34:02]
The message says, “We move forward not in our own strength, but in the power of God.” What is one area of your life where you need to stop relying on your own strength and ask for God’s help? How will you do that this week? [35:30]

Sermon Clips

But oftentimes what we discover is that the way forward does not involve a rewind or just we reversing to where we were but we've got to keep moving forward and sometimes we have to realize we've got to incorporate where we are now and say this is the new normal but I don't have to deal with the new normal by myself because God is still with me the same God who was with me before is with me now and will be with me in the future. [00:06:24] (43 seconds)

If anytime we start thinking that my gift means that somebody is supposed to bow down and reverence me you got it twisted anytime my gift makes me think that somebody's gonna put me up on a pedestal you got it twisted if anytime your gift makes you start thinking that it's cause for your name to be up on lights and everybody is supposed to be awed by who no God gives the gift the treasure so that we might use it to serve God by serving God's people. [00:20:24] (35 seconds)

Don't be surprised when trouble comes up against you as if some strange thing has happened to you. Don't be discouraged because all of a sudden you think or you had thought that you would have a smooth sailing because you went to church last week. Don't get it twisted. The closer I get to God's purpose, the more the enemy tries to push me back. [00:25:23] (29 seconds)

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