God Is the Treasure

• By candidasullivan
• September 1, 2026
• No Comments

What if we’ve gotten it wrong? What if the purpose of our lives is not for us to become great, but for the greatness of God to shine through us? 

2 Corinthians 4:7 KJV

⁷ But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

As I read this chapter, I thought about how the enemy uses our faults and failures against us—constantly trying to show us how we aren’t good enough. He uses our sin against us. And magnifies our weaknesses. 

Satan wants us to think we are supposed to be the treasure. He inflates our flesh, only to tear it down. He tells us that our weaknesses eliminate our calling. But our power doesn’t come from our flesh; it comes from the power of God. 

Pride says, “Look how great you are.”
Shame says, “Look how terrible you are.”

Yet both keep our eyes fixed on us.

The gospel redirects our attention:

Look how great God is.

I rarely write about my good days. My favorite experiences to share are the ones that seemed hopeless, but right in the middle of the despair, God showed up. His light shone through all of my cracks and weaknesses. 

God is the treasure. 

Because so much changes when we understand that.

The pressure to appear perfect decreases.

The shame surrounding weakness loses some of its power.

The need to prove ourselves begins to disappear.

The fear that our imperfections disqualify us changes.

The vessel doesn’t have to be impressive for the treasure to be priceless. Therefore, my goal should never be to show someone how great I am, but to reflect the greatness of God inside of me. To show them it was never me, but God. 

When I allow people to see some of the darkness God has brought me through, they can more clearly recognize His light. If I only show the polished parts of my story, they may never understand just how much God has done.

Think about how many times God has strengthened us through someone else’s story. Daniel’s story teaches us about the God who shuts lions’ mouths. Noah’s story shows us what obedience and trust can look like when God’s instructions don’t make sense. Their stories don’t ultimately magnify the people—they reveal God.

What if God wants to use our stories to point someone toward Him, too?

When we share what God has done for us, we magnify the Lord. We show the power of God in our lives. I know how hard it can be. Our flesh wants to hide anything that makes us look bad. We always want to appear like we have it all together. But sometimes it is truly beautiful to show others who is holding us together. 

I don’t have it all figured out.

I make mistakes.

I mess up.

I’m an earthen vessel with scars and feelings of brokenness.

But none of that has turned God away from me. Time and time again, He has shown up for me. He is my strength in weakness. He is the way.

Maybe I don’t need to spend my life trying to convince people that the vessel is extraordinary.

I want them to see the treasure.

I want my life to say, Look what God can do. Look how faithful He is. Look how He carries, restores, strengthens, forgives, and loves.

I don’t need to become great. I want my life to reveal how great God already is.