The Potter and the Clay

What does it look like to live surrendered?

For quite some time I have been praying this prayer almost daily to express my trust and surrender to the Lord: I will fear nothing today because in You alone I already have all I need to respond well to whatever happens (Philippians 1:27; 2 Corinthians 9:8). I will travel through this day in peaceful acceptance of Your plan for me without resistance because you know my heart. You know my prayers are for Thy will to be done on earth as it is in heaven, and I know both your sovereign and specific love for me is perfect. I don’t need anyone or anything to cooperate with me in order to (fill in the blank — be okay, be a bright light, be effectual for the Kingdom, etc.) I will not try to protect myself or get my way today because you are my safety and my story.

Maintaining this posture before my Creator helps temper reactions when a pipe breaks and floods the house, illness strikes, a child needs my time unexpectedly, my husband has a car wreck or my class schedule changes. God knows the reason for each adversity. Only He sees the future I must face and is preparing me perfectly for it. He knows how the struggles in my life are producing victories for His Kingdom. He is in charge. God is the potter, I am the clay.

When we heed these verses….

But now, O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.  (Isaiah 64:8)

Woe to him who strives with him who formed him, a pot among earthen pots! Does the clay say to him who forms it, ‘What are you making?’ or ‘Your work has no handles’? (Isaiah 45:9)

You turn things upside down! Shall the potter be regarded as the clay, that the thing made should say of its maker, “He did not make me”; or the thing formed say of him who formed it, “He has no understanding”? (Isaiah 29:16)

But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?”(Romans 9:20)

…life ends up like this.

But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. (2 Corinthians 4:7)

If we let God have His way, God will get the credit for the results of our lives, not us. The results will extend beyond any human calculation. We people are housed in frail bodies, subject to accidents and illness at any moment. And we are limited in all other capacities as well, like knowledge, power, mental capabilities, etc. Relying on God to have His way allows His grandeur and power to be seen through our weakness. People who are watching our lives know when “God did that” instead of us!

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)

Picture Explanation: I had the privilege of watching a potter at the wheel this summer. I have been comforted this week thinking about God having His hands all around my life like this,  forming me into the vessel needed for the good works for which I was created. The same is true of you.

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