We are the Clay

One of the images we see several times in scripture is that God is the potter and we are clay. We read that idea today in Isaiah 64:8

And yet, O Lord, you are our Father.
We are the clay, and you are the potter.
We all are formed by your hand.

There is a lot about that image that is comforting.

We are in His hands at all times. He holds us. He works on us. He is not finished with us.

But, when we think about the work of the potter, and the clay, it’s not aways easy. The potter forms the clay. But, sometimes in the work of making the object, it’s not working right. Things aren’t going right.

So, what does the potter do? He takes the clay. He breaks it down. And he starts over. And then he rebuilds.

To me, the notion of God being a potter and we being His clay speaks to that. It speaks to how God forms us, how God works on us, how God makes us.

And it also speaks to the fact that there are going to be times of great pain or hurt or loss. There are going to be times when we fell crushed. There are going to be times when we feel overwhelmed.

Don’t give up or lose hope in those moments. God is at work. God is forming us. God is making us. God is working on us. When the fire is hot. When the moment is hard. When the pressure is on.

We are the clay. He is the potter. And He is at work. He is forming us into the object He wants us to be. Trust. Trust.

He is at work. His greatest work happens in those hard times. Don’t give up. He is the potter. We are the clay. Trust in His hand.

God is at Work

Preparation is important.

I’m a guy that believes in preparation and planning.

I’m a guy that will leave early for a meeting and drive around just so that I know where I’m going so I won’t be late.

I’m a guy that likes to know what is going to happen before it happens.

I’m a planner, someone who prepares, and, by my nature, someone who worries.

And that’s a problem.  When you’re wired like that, you think it’s all up to you.

You’ve got to dot every “i” and cross every “t.”

And if you make a mistake, boom, it’s over.

Today, listen to what the Psalmist says to God in Psalm 80:

9 You prepared the ground for it; *
it took root and filled the land.

God prepared the land for the root. God did the work. God made things ready.

Not the Psalmist.  Not Israel.  Not the prophet.  Not the King.

God made it ready.

God did the work.

So is it for you today. There’s not a situation you are going to encounter that God wasn’t already at work at.

God is preparing things for you today. God is making things ready.

God is at work.

He is making a way, making a plan.

He’s at work.

It’s not all up to you. Trust.  Listen.  Follow.

God is at work.

You can trust Him.