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As I was reading Jeremiah 18 this morning, I was reminded again of how gentle and loving our Creator is despite our inability to submit to Him and His plans for us.
He wants to perfect us.
To make us fully into His image.
Never giving up.
The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD saying, “Arise and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will announce My words to you.” Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something on the wheel. But the vessel that he was making of clay was spoiled in the hand of the potter; so he remade it into another vessel, as it pleased the potter to make.
Then the word of the LORD came to me saying, “Can I not, O house of Israel, deal with you as this potter does?” declares the LORD. “Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel. ~ Jeremiah 18: 1-6
I love how God uses parables so we can clearly see our relationship to Him, the Almighty. We are a joy for Him “as it pleased the potter to make”(v.4). We please Him when we allow Him to shape us into what He intended for us to be.
That is the hardest part for me. Allowing Him to reshape me, not fighting it, not trying to determine the outcome of what I will look like, or how He will do it. I have a preconceived notion of how it all should go, what result will come of His work.
He wants me to just…let go.
Why can’t I just do that? Why can’t I just trust Him fully? After all, He did create me.
I am amazed each and every time with His work on me. I am amazed at His creativity, His plan, His methods and His all-pursuing love of me even when I am trying to take control of something which I have none.
I got this sense of peace knowing that no matter how much I spoil the wonderful opportunities God gives me, He will use it for His Glory, to reform me into something He can use.
What is the Potter molding you into? Are you fighting it? Are you surrendering completely to Him and His perfect plan?
I really, really needed to read this today. Thank you.
Thank you for your faithfulness. I was reading a book called Radical this morning by David Platt and struck again by how I need to follow Jesus and how his grace abounds. God’s word is salve to my soul.
Allowing Him to mold us and the trust that it requires are something that come with time. I felt like you do 15-20 years ago. It requires going through many trials and learning just how trustworthy He is and as much as I wanted it I had to learn it step by step. My husband lost his job 5 months ago and we have both been absolutely amazed at our trust in Him and our willingness to wait on Him for the outcome that He has for us. We have been through many difficult trials in our 32 1/2 years together and I can see how each one has allowed us to grow and learn more each time. My husband and I were talking about the job situation one day and we almost feel irresponsible for being so unconcerned, but we have seen in the past and through these 5 months how much He loves and cares for us and we know that he has only the best for us. Maybe He is allowing us to learn even more trust before He requires a major move,we know we can trust Him to shape us for what He has in the future.