In a world that thirsts for grandeur, the humble and unassuming are often overlooked. We admire strength, wealth, and influence, yet God delights in what the world dismisses. The poem below captures this contrast beautifully—the simplicity of an earthen vessel, the seeming insignificance of a shell, and yet, within that fragility, the greatest wonder: God Himself choosing to dwell among us.

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The shell here set before you
is want of worlds great thrill
like pot of clay
it simple
no fame or name to know.

It’s foot may be offset
as every land is met
with a wobble
two to count—
the——n
three
until
with lean
it’s set.

But oh—what thrill
of all beside
when God comes down
in cup reside
to show his worth
Himself
in both
the golden cup
and clay alike.

– Janae May

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A Kingdom Built on the Unlikely

Scripture repeatedly reveals this truth. God chose:

• A wandering Aramean (Abraham) to father a nation.
• A stuttering fugitive (Moses) to deliver His people.
• A shepherd boy (David) to rule as king.
• A young virgin (Mary) to bear the Savior.
• Fishermen and tax collectors to establish His Church.

None of these were impressive in their own right, yet in God’s hands, they became part of His great redemptive work. The vessel matters little—the presence of God within makes all the difference.

The Wobbling Walk of Faith

The poem describes an awkward, unsteady movement:

“It’s foot may be offset / as every land is met / with a wobble / two to count— / the——n / three / until / with lean / it’s set.”

This captures the experience of every believer. We do not walk perfectly. Our steps falter. Our faith stumbles. Yet, in the leaning, in the setting, God establishes us. The walk of faith is not one of flawless strength but of persistent trust. The prophet Habakkuk expressed this when he declared:

“The righteous one will live by his faith.” (Habakkuk 2:4, NASB)

Faith is a journey of dependence, not self-sufficiency. And when we lean, we find that we are upheld not by our own strength, but by His grace.

God’s Glory in the Ordinary

The poem ends with the most breathtaking reality of all:

“But oh—what thrill / of all beside / when God comes down / in cup reside / to show his worth / Himself / in both / the golden cup / and clay alike.”

What could be more thrilling than God Himself choosing to dwell among us? Not merely in grandeur, but in the mundane, in the fragile, in the ordinary. This is the beauty of the Incarnation—Christ, the radiance of God’s glory, took on human flesh (John 1:14). He did not arrive in a palace, but in a manger. He did not associate with the mighty, but with the lowly.

And today, He continues to fill ordinary, broken vessels with His presence. The cup—whether gold or clay—has no worth apart from the One who fills it.

A Call to Rest in Him

We often strive for significance, longing to be vessels of gold when we feel more like cracked clay. But the gospel reminds us that our value is not in our appearance, talent, or accomplishments. It is in Christ alone. Whether our lives shine like gold or feel weak like fragile pottery, we are held, filled, and used by Him.

Let this truth free us from striving. Let it call us to rest. Because in the end, the greatest thrill is not being admired by the world, but being inhabited by the living God.

Lord, may I be a vessel for Your glory, whether a golden cup or a humble jar of clay. Let me be filled with Your presence, that I may pour out Your love to others. Amen.

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This article was inspired by Janae May’s Poetry and written by Moe Bergeron