“O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand” (Isa. 64:8). “We have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us” (2 Cor.4:7).
Heavenly Father, we waste so much energy pining, regretting, sighing, wishing, and bemoaning. Whether it’s choices from the past, situations in the present, or new fears baking in our “heart-ovens”—we don’t really want to be clay in your hands. We want to own the pottery factory, be editor-in-chief of our stories, and CEO over our pain, people, and outcomes. Yep, that’s us.
Given the opportunity, most of us would love a do-over for certain chapters, crucibles, and choices in our lives. But your name is Redeemer not Re-Do. You bring your mercy into our messes every morning. Better than that, you’ve placed the treasure of the Gospel—Jesus, himself, into our “jar-of-clay-ness.” “Christ in us is our hope of glory”—not us living like the big “DOPO”—Director of Pottery Operations.
Abba, today and every day, you call us to cease our striving, have done with our vexing, and forsake our worrying. To “be still, and know you are God,” doesn’t mean, “Shut up and shut down!” It’s to live with humility, gratitude, and trust.
How easily we forget (or ignore)… you are working in all things for our good, making beauty from our ashes, and turning our mourning into dancing. Why do we doubt you? You gave Jesus for our salvation; surely we can trust you for everything else we actually need (Rom. 8:32). Thank you… and So Very Amen.