Museums are not necessarily my jam; but whenever I am on vacation with my family, I will reluctantly walk inside. One summer, we visited a museum that showcased various pieces of art and artifacts from ancient Native American tribes. One piece in particular grabbed my attention. It was a handmade, clay jar covered with little indentions. I looked down at the description and I was intrigued with the words: “The indentations in these jars were caused by pressure from the maker’s thumb. On this jar may be seen the prints of the fine lines on the skin.”

Isaiah 64:8 tells us the Lord is our potter, we are the clay, and all of us are the work of His hand! He is our Creator and we are His creation.

But have you ever stopped to consider the process? Have you ever thought about the way His hands formed and shaped you? What immediately comes to my mind is a toddler and Play Doh! Squeezing and tearing it apart in their hands! Using those little plastic tools and cutting it up into little pieces you find hardened and stuck in the carpet months later!  I’m glad God doesn’t have the same hap-hazard manner when creating us, amen!?!

Have you ever watched a potter creating various clay pieces with his hands using a pottery wheel? It is mesmerizing to see the process in action. They always make it look so easy, but we know a lot of patience, precision, and skill goes into each piece created.

Have you ever watched someone making pottery and realized the correlation to our relationship with the Heavenly Father?

The potter’s wheel is under the potter’s control the entire time. And the potter keeps constant contact of his hands on the clay. Creator God, our Potter, is in control of all things in this world and in our life. And He keeps constant contact of His hands upon our life. When we place our faith in Jesus Christ, He will never leave us nor forsake us (Deut. 31:6, 8; Heb. 13:5; Josh. 1:5; 1 Kings 8:57; 1 Chron. 28:20; 1 Sam. 12:22; Jer. 18:1-6).

The potter also applies pressure where needed. On some areas of the clay, pressure is applied more heavily than others. We will feel His hand upon our lives (2 Cor. 1:8, 9). There will be pressure applied in certain areas of our life. We may feel where that area of pride is being squeezed, that area of envy is being pushed down, and that spot where anger resides – being firmly pressed. And this is the point where we may be tempted to shout, “Please Lord, don’t push!” Don’t push right there, that’s a sore spot! Don’t press in over there, that’s a sensitive area! The Potter is pushing and pressing on those trouble spots so He can continue forming you and molding you and shaping you into His creation, His masterpiece. Just remember, “We are pressed, but not crushed” (2 Corinthians 4:8-10).

Something else that’s interesting is how the potter keeps his hands wet at all times. It is essential for the clay to contain water to give it plasticity and allow it to be molded and shaped easily. Jesus is the Living Water (John 4:10) and God has equipped us in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ (our Living Water) (Heb. 13:20-21).

This entire process of constant contact, applying pressure, and maintaining adequate moisture is repeated over and over until the potter has completed his work. This is a lifelong process and it requires two willing parties to complete.

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

Your mistakes have not taken God off guard. The enemy says, “What you have been is what you always will be.” But God can take all the broken pieces of your life, put them back together, and through it all, make you better than you have ever been!

Broken things can become blessed things if you let God do the mending.

God is willing and He has a purpose for your life to make you more like His Son. But that requires your willingness as well. You must be willing to yield your life to Him and His work on your heart and life. Corrie Ten Boom says it well:

“You see, a potter can only mold the clay when it lies completely in his hand. It requires complete surrender.”

Don’t you love how all of creation speaks of our Creator! And even though the Scriptures were written down for us over 2,000 years ago, we still have living examples to show us the reality, validity, and application of His Word.

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves;” -2 Cor. 4:7

We are clay pots, earthen vessels that contain a great treasure!