August 29, 2026
— Christiana Tsai · Source: Christiana Tsai, Jewels from the Queen of the Dark Chamber, ch. 25 (English rendered from the Chinese translation by Yuan Houdai)
2 Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
In old age, ill, weak and ever more limited, Christiana Tsai still believed the Lord kept her alive for His purpose, and this beautifully echoes the apostle Paul's declaration: the value of life is never defined by a healthy body or the distance of our footsteps, but by our willingness to let God shine through our weakness. When we face physical limitations, the passing of time, or the boundaries of our abilities, let us not fall into self-pity and anxiety. It is precisely these seemingly broken and fragile 'jars of clay' that are best suited to carry and manifest God's sufficient grace and unfailing glory.
Lord, thank You for being my eternal support in my deeply limited and fragile life. Forgive me for so often measuring the value of life by the favorability of my circumstances or the state of my health. When I feel weak and weary, and my steps are heavy, let Your grace cover me, that my heart may find peace in Your perfect will. May You use my small life as a vessel to live out Your love and glory, no matter the circumstances. Amen.