The Potter and the Clay
Life is full of amazing things, but none quite so amazing as when we comprehend the word “grace.” How is it that we can make so many mistakes in life, and yet God is able to still use us for His glory and His purposes? How is that even possible? How does God use messed up people?
Simply put….it is His amazing grace. He takes people that are broken and puts them back on the potter’s wheel. Once we have been broken, then he is able to remold us into something useful, something beautiful….something that reflects Him. That takes us submitting ourselves to His will and being willing to be broken and remade.
It is not without pain and suffering to be broken. When you are at the end of yourself, it can be scary. It can be downright painful. We tend to want to be in control, and yet the truth is, there is very little that we can control in this life. I used to think that the remote control was the only thing I really had control over…then the battery went out!
Grace is something we don’t deserve, and I am glad that God gives us grace, not what we deserve. We deserve judgment. We deserve punishment…but God gave His Son so that we could experience His grace.
If you are at the end of your rope, frustrated and wondering how anything good will ever come out of your life (or maybe you know someone that fits that mold), take heart and think about these truths:
- All things work together for good to those that love the Lord and are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28.
- My God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19.
- My grace is sufficient for you. 2 Corinthians 12:9.
- The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning, great is Your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23.
- The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God. Psalm 51:17.
- I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to proper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11.
- The Lord is my strength and my shield. I will trust Him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with Joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving. Psalm 28:7.
- Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here am I, send me!” Isaiah 6:8.
- The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the Lord. Psalm 97:5.
God’s grace is truly amazing. Once you grasp that, things come into focus. Everything begins to make sense. All of the problems, trials, and tribulations seem to be put in perspective. Your mountains can melt like wax in His presence. His grace really is sufficient. When we submit our will to His, then, and only then can we experience the grace He alone can give, and that is what helps us make sense of this crazy world we are in. Our purpose is found in His grace.
Shalom!
Dan Skognes