The Potter and the Clay

*I had to write this for a class I am taking, but I thought it may encourage others..

“But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him” (Jeremiah 18:4).

            Choosing one passage of Scripture that has been most important to my life is impossible, but this passage from Jeremiah has been the most recent. After spending 15 years of my adult life on the mission field, the Lord moved our family back to America. During this monumental transition, which included reverse culture shock for myself and our seven children, an incredible loss of identity, the grief of separating from dear friends, and so much more, I came to the end of myself. I title this season of life my “un-ing”. It was like I had to unravel everything I thought about myself, God, and life’s purpose. This is when God gave me Jeremiah 18:4.

            There is so much about this Scripture I love. I look at this scripture like I am the pot, and He is the Potter. God was not saying it was time to throw me out but rather transform me into something else. I really had become marred by the realities of life, the isolation of living on the mission field, and the belief that it was more important to God what I was doing rather than who I was becoming. During this season, God taught me He cares about who I am becoming way more than anything I could do for Him. While the enemy told me I was worthless and filled me with shame, God sweetly worked my heart into something else, something more usable for a new season of life and ministry.

            I learned so much from the Father by truly allowing this verse to change me from the inside out. I learned of His unfailing love, His constant pursual, His purpose for my life, and the way He sees me. I am not to be thrown away or trampled on or misused, but to always be in His hands as moldable clay. His heart is for me and my good.

            This passage touched me to my core and helped to reconstruct my understanding of God’s heart. It continues to help me live out each day knowing He will lead me into becoming the woman He wants me to be. The amount of shame I felt coming off the mission field was immense, but God has taught me there is nothing I can do to make Him love me more or less. My job is to be moldable clay in His hands, continue to be obedient to His voice, and live a life of telling others what a wonderful Lord and Savior He truly is.