“Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something on the wheel. But the vessel that he was making of clay was spoiled in the hand of the potter; so he remade it into another vessel, as it pleased the potter to make.” – Jeremiah 18:3,4 NASB
I have been feeling particularly broken, beyond just grief, experiencing the frailties of my body, the limitations of my mind, the shortcomings of my character, and the failings of my heart.
I am deeply marred.
Faced with the realities of my blemished humanity, I am beginning to recognize I have two choices: I can either feel discouraged and dejected, deserving to be tossed aside and discarded (my certain fate without the grace of God), or I can embrace the life-giving touch of the Great Potter to mold and reshape this contaminated piece of mud into something beautiful.
Because of your sacrifice, dear Lord, please re-form my flawed life that it may be usable and valuable to you.
Oh Christina, he already has used this heart wrenching experience you have gone through to bless the lives of others and further his kingdom, I hope you know that! It has impacted me tremendouly and with your book and speaking engagements and just your life in itself you are doing his will, you are following his commands and you are pleasing your Lord.
At the risk of sounding repetitious… thank you for sharing this thought, Christina.
Today I’ve been struggling with my own feelings of not being good enough. I have been feeling frustrated and discouraged by my lack of perfection. Trying to "improve myself" feels like slogging through mud… so slow and of little real benefit in the end.
You have reminded me once again that God is able and willing to mold me into something worthwhile and beautiful in His sight. HE is the Potter, and it is my job to yield to Him, rather than focusing all my efforts on re-shaping myself.
Thank you again, my friend, for being an encouragement.
Oh,my…PERFECT for ME to read today…..love you so much!!!!!!!! Jean (and Gary)
Christina, here are some quotes that brought me comfort and I thought might comfort you. 🙂
Reibori Evans: This day and always “It is natural that we should wish to call them back, but it is also quite probable that they would not wish to come back, even if it were given unto them to choose, what we have to offer them here that, were we fully aware of it, it is probable that even in all our grief and loneliness, we would not raise our voices to recall the righteous departed.”
Joanne Rogers: Some days I feel energized. Some day I feel depleted. Grieving can be exhausting…But then I try to remember my overriding feeling at the time he (Mr. Rogers) went to heaven-that feeling of blessed relief that his pain and suffering were over.”