The Potter Knows Best

“And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so, he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make. (Jeremiah 18:4, NKJ)

At twenty-seven years old, after eleven years of marriage and two kids, my husband left me.

Divorce is a deep pit, but God allowed it so he might form of me a new vessel that seemed good to him. Somehow, in the depth of pain and sorrow, I understood God was reaching down to redeem my life. I was on the wheel of circumstance and God was making me into a new vessel.

God used the water of his word to soften my heart and bring me to the place where I would yield to him. I was learning for the first time the loving nurturing ways of God and beginning to see my worth and value to Him.

As God molded me anew, I found purpose for my life. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are His workmanship (poeme), created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

One thing about God, he only makes originals. Before I committed my life to Christ, I was tormented over all the things I couldn’t do. Fear kept me from trying a lot of things. I had deep desire and longing to do something wonderful – to be something wonderful. But a constant voice from within told me I would never fulfill those longings. I would never measure up.

Occasionally, I would see glimpses of hope, vision, and a spark of possibility, then the voice would come taunting, reminding me of what I would never do, what I could never be. “Hey, Kimalea! How’s it feel to want?” I thought I was nothing more than a blob of clay back then, so it didn’t take much for me to fall for the devil’s lies. I believed the voice in my head was mine, not discerning it was Satan who was writing the script. For half my life, I believed I would never be anything more than a blob of clay.

One day, God gave me a word picture that spoke to my heart in a profound way. He showed me a large chest full of “dress-up” clothes. In the scene, I was a little girl again digging through a large chest full of beautiful garments. I saw myself trying them on one by one and studying my reflection in a mirror. The garments were oversized, and nothing fit, but I did not care. The clothes, hats, and shoes were beautiful, and I felt immense joy as I tried them on.

Suddenly, the older me understood that God was speaking in a parable. I realized the scene, the chest, the clothes, all of them were a glimpse into my spiritual gifts and blessings. Without Christ in my life, my perception of those things felt like fiery darts because I viewed the beautiful ill-fitting clothes as proof of my unworthiness, and evidence of all I was not.

Then, the Lord opened my eyes to discover those garments were not simply spiritual gifts, but tools he gave me to use for his glory. The garments were handpicked for me and uniquely designed for his purpose as I learned to minister to others. God prepared that chest, with those outfits “that I should walk in them.” One designer outfit at a time.

As a student in the Potter’s house, Jeremiah may have wondered, “What in the world is he going to make out of that?” Have you ever felt that way about your life? If your answer is yes, you are in good company. The clay had no idea either, but the Potter knew. Be patient friend. Stick around, and watch as God molds you into the vessel, he designed you to be.

Do you have a burning desire or calling in your life that you set aside for fear of failure or feelings of unworthiness?
Write your dream or calling down and describe what it would mean to you to see it through.
Consider the nature of clay. Are you yielding and moldable, or stiff in the hands of the Potter?
Choose one area of your life right now where you have become unyielding in Jesus hands. Go to the Potters house and allow him to wash you with the water of his word, and lovingly mold you into his image.