In my devotional time this morning, I read Jeremiah 18. In verses one through six, God instructs Jeremiah to go to the potter’s house. When Jeremiah arrived, he noticed that the potter was working at the wheel. The vessel being made became marred so the potter crushed it and began to make it over again. After this, The Lord spoke to Jeremiah. Let’s Talk about it!
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, synonyms for marred include impaired, disfigured, damaged, spoiled, imperfect, and flawed. To some extent, we are all marred due to our past experiences, upbringing, carnal nature, etc. This is why it is important for us to leave our old ways behind and embrace becoming new creatures in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). We are transformed into new creatures via our closeness with God as we develop our relationship with Him. This transformation is empowered by God’s Spirit, His Word, and His grace. Our minds have to be renewed, our hearts have to be purified, and our carnal nature must continually die. This journey requires faith and involves continual learning, growth and evolution.
As mentioned above, the vessel that the potter was making became marred. The potter knew that since it was marred it would not be useful for the purpose he was creating it for so he crushed it and begin to remake it. The potter could’ve just thrown the clay away and started with new clay. He could’ve gotten frustrated and walked away from the project. But he didn’t. In verse six, God correlated the potter to Himself and the clay to us, His people. He desires to mold us into the people He created us to be. He desires for us to be more like Him. So imagine our God loving us so much, having so much patience with us, and desiring for our purpose to be fulfilled so much that He commits to taking His time with molding us. Even when we are marred, He doesn’t give up on us. He doesn’t throw us to the side and begin something new. He doesn’t condemn us for our actions or words. Instead, He crushes us with hopes that in the remaking, we will become molded into vessels that will carry out our purpose.
The crushing is necessary. The pain from the trials and tribulations is necessary. Your faith during the unseen and unknown is necessary. Whatever you may be going through in your life right now is necessary. Believe that you will come out of it better than you went in it. We are forewarned that we must go through the testing of our faith, trials, affliction and suffering, but these things are sent to produce endurance, perseverance, humility, etc (James 1:2-4, Romans 5:3-5, 1 Peter 5:10, 1 Peter 1:6-7). I want to encourage you to gain a different perspective of your crushing season. I know you feel as if the pressure is too much for you to bear, but with God, you can bear it. I know you are desiring to give up and walk away, but keep pressing. I know you desire your greater to come sooner rather than later, but trust the process. God is making you over again. Be patient with Him and yourself. Focus on lying at His feet and seeking His face. Release your control of your life and embrace God’s will. Give God a true yes, friend. He cares for you! And although it may not seem like it to you at this moment, the crushing is a true display of His love!
Read, dissect and meditate on the above mentioned scriptures.
Real Talk with Keve 