The Clay's Open Conversation With Her Potter (A Response to a Reader):

Photo by V! Nay (flickr)

Do you mean to tell me that this isn't over yet? I and my potter have been here in this little shop since the wee hours of the morning. The only thing I've enjoyed so far is how He placed me on the table and began to knead me as though I were an extraordinary piece of dough. He rubbed me and turned me upside down, and then He rubbed my back-side too. How sweet!

But it is now getting really late and the Potter still isn't done. 

"Lay very still, don't be anxious. I am not yet done with you." 

"But Potter, why? I think I look okay."

"I know you do, but I need to finish up your left side to make you "more than just ok.""

"Can I get a tattoo there?"

"A tattoo is not the best option, little Clay."

"But Potter...I've seen other vessels with the same tattoo."

"I will give you something more worthy than a tattoo." 

I fell silent for a few seconds, then I told Him that He knew best (even if I wasn't really feeling His agenda). How sure was He that His master-plan was any better than my tattoo idea? 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Last night a reader said in an email, 

"I want reassurance that His desires are better than mine. Even as I try to be more like Jesus, I don't want an assignment such as He had, it was a difficult one and He suffered. Which part in God's Word does He say that our lives on earth will bring joy not suffering?"

I told her that even though I didn't have all the answers, I am very confident God does. 

5 Reasons Why You Should be Reassured that God Desires Better Things for You than You Desire for Yourself:

The Potter's Exhibition has a Reputation:

Isaiah 64:8, "But now, O Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You our Potter; and all we are the work of Your hand." Jeremiah 18:4, "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." (Imagine you had a project that was your "baby," you would think of the best ways to present it to the world. The project does not know the best way to present itself...but you do. And you have a reputation to protect). 

He Placed You in the Womb:

Psalm 139: 13, 16: "You formed my inward parts, You covered me in my mother's womb. Your eyes saw my substance being yet unformed, and in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them." (Imagine you are an iPad creator for instance, you place the iPad in the box and ship it to its first destination. You hope that the recipient would use the manual properly and adhere to every instruction on the manual). 

His Master Plan for You is Good:

Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." (God's plans are good, His intentions are not for you to suffer). 

Babies Have Limited Knowledge:

1 Corinthians 13: 11-12, "When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man I put away childish things. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known." (this verse tells us that initially we will not understand, but as we mature in Christ we will begin to see ourselves the way God sees us. The initial stage will require that we completely trust our daddy to do the right thing). 

We Have Unbeatable Army Gear:

2 Corinthians 10:4, "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds." (this is the part where I admit that everything will not be rosy. Yes, Jesus had such a difficult assignment filled with suffering. They spat on His face and rejected Him, just like they did to the prophets before Him. And just because the world has ungodly agents, these same sufferings and rejections WILL come. But you know the good thing? You will not get blown away by sufferings because God in His awesomeness has already provided the ARMY GEAR, so that when the arrows fly towards your direction they will only bounce back). 

Question for the day: "How do you know that God's desires are way better than your own desires?" I (and this reader) will love to read your comments. Thank you. 

29 comments:

Chizzy D said...

b/c he is God, he made me, he knows me more than i know myself, his will is the best.

AliceDCL said...

because he love me
he thought for me are of good and not of evil

Blogoratti said...

He knows best...even though at times it feels otherwise!!
Thanks for sharing, interesting read!

Unknown said...

Oh, how I love this.
"For I know the thoughts I think towards thee. Thoughts of good and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope".

That explains what he has in mind for me as my potter. That elicits what he is doing with me in His hands. That describes He will not leave me half done. Although it wont be easy. Although it'd be tough. Although it'd not suit my own definition of 'okay', still he is the master potter, master architect of my life. Yes, He knows best.

Thanks Jay :)

-LDP
http://dynamiqueprofesseur.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

This is trusting unconditionally in his words and having the faith that He would never let you down.
This is real nice..Sorry I've been regular..My apologies

NakedSha said...

GIRLLL

This is so beautiful. I have a status message saying 'Clay in the potters hands' and people have asked me what that means. You have explained it thoroughly here. Thank you, lady!

Kafo said...

wow
to have not read this today would have been a tradegy

some days it is easy to believe that His plan is best and on others ...

His Son, putting His Son thru' that much pain just so i can have a choice to choose Him, yeah if i can remember that everyday i just might see 50 years old with a few strands left on my head

DayDreamer said...

Because I know His word says that He will perfect that which concerns me and He will not abandon the works of His hands.

Formerly stealth reader said...

God bless the reader for the question! i have felt that way in the past..............questioned, hesitated and doubted. feared and consequently disobeyed
so how do i know????
well your answers jaycee sums everything up neatly n very nicely
My experience has taught me that when i go it my way or help God out (as if he asked me to help) i always fail, and run back with tail btw my legs and go like this
"...............err G what was that thing you wanted to put in me i refused, i think i kinda need it now"

Jennifer A. said...

@GoHard...yes, like the inventor of an item knows exactly why he created that item.

@BBB...I concur

@Blogoratti...at times it certainly feels otherwise, yet at the end of the day it all makes sense :)

@LDP...thanks for this --->>> "Although it wont be easy. Although it'd be tough. Although it'd not suit my own definition of 'okay', still he is the master potter, master architect of my life."

@2cute4u...unconditional trust...that's exactly what we need. I usually think of my earthly father and how much I know he cares, and then I think of God...His love for us is beyond description.

@NakedSha...mennn, I love that status...

@Kafo...lol @ "I just might see 50 years old." You will see that and so much more...

@Homie...this verse you've quoted is HIGHLY important, "that He will perfect that which concerns me." It's like God already created an "insurance" so that even if any damage happens, He's there to be the Repairer and the FIXER, perfecting every one of us according to our original inclinations. Thanks.

@Formerly Stealth Reader...lol @ running back with your tail inbetween your legs. Had to laugh @ that one...

Harry said...

The Bible says His thoughts for me are of good and not of evil to give me a future and a hope...

Considering the fact that he created me and He knows the end from the beginning and that He loves me... I can trust that His plan and will is greater than mine...

Michael said...

love this! Makes me wonder how often I have asked God those questions?

Chioma said...

I completely agree that the "Potter" knows best. Over the last week, I was struck by the idea of God as a Father and that came to a climax for me in church on Sunday. A family was dedicating their children and when the pastor asked the father what his children mean to him, he simply said, "I'll live for them and I'll die for them." That's EXACTLY what Jesus did. Imagine the heart of a Father for His children, add that to the love that a lover has for his loved one and there's NO WAY that His plans for us aren't bigger than we can ever think for, ask for or imagine. If man(husband/boyfriend, family, etc.)can love us so much and take the best care of us, how much more does HE love us!!!

Rainyjoy said...

its not easy believing in an invisible God but we have tasted the truth and can testify that He is real. when i see the goodness of the Lord all around me, i know for sure that ,yes, He is by my side and He is watching out for me. As for knowing God's plans for you, He always reveals to His children but maybe not everything at once but as you walk together with Him, things(vision, dreams) become clearer.
Am not gonna lie, there are some days when i feel like am crazy, u know -holding unto His promises but then i remember how Abraham was called by God and God was faithful to Him. i agree wit kafo abt focusing on how God sacrificed His son so that we can have a choice to choose Him, because He knows what is best for me and has given me all that i need to achieve my purpose here on earth.
we walk by faith and not by sight and learn to T.R.U.S.T HIM even when we don't understand how we are going to get there.
God bless the reader, i pray you'll rest in Him and just keep loving Him for who He is-GOD all by Himself.
God bless you all for i am encouraged by reading all of this.
shalom !

Tehilah said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Tehilah said...

...Because HE said so and HIS words are yeah and amen! His words are TRUE!

Jennifer A. said...

@Harry..."I can trust that His plans will be greater than mine." I'm loving your confidence by the day...

@Michael...if I tried to count the number of times I've asked God all sorts of questions, I'm sure I won't finish counting...and I'm equally sure I won't even remember all the questions I've asked. It is good to ask, so that we get the answers. "Ask, and ye shall receive," is what the Bible says. :)

@Chioma...I'm in love with your examples. They only simplify the answers to these questions. They're like a short-cut to know the truth.

@RainyJoy..."there are some days when I feel like I am crazy- holding unto His promises." You're talking about me right there...yet, the crazy folks win. :)

@Tehilah...it feels great to know you started a blog this year (just added you to my readership). And yes, His words are "Yea" and "Amen." There are really no NEGATIVES when we choose to ROLL with God. It's all POSITIVES! Even when the storms come, the end result is still VICTORY. Thank you.

Anonymous said...

Eph 3:20 "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us..."

Whatever I can think up for my life...He can think up and do better...and His thoughts towards me are for my good (Jer 29:11) thats what keeps me looking to Him for direction...

I mean, how can the created tell the creator whats best for them?

Fabulo-la said...

You know everybody seems to have a spiritual answer to this question. me sef I have wondered for a long time, how and why I should just trust him and let him lead me.
My answer?
Well looking back, will i really have gotten here on my own?
Even the little things, like some jobs, how I was able to even just survive with a roof over my head.
Honestly, if it werent for his grace and favor it would have been a different story.
So I just tell myself, if he saw me through then, well I believe he will see me through now.
What do i have to lose? not like he asked me to kill cow and bring ten goats as sacrifice.
he just needs me to trust him.

I think I can do that.

Jennifer A. said...

@awomansworth..."Whatever I can think up for my life...He can think up and do better" I like how you said that girl!

@Fabulo-la...lol @ kill cow and bring 10 goats. But for real though, how did people from back in the day carry all those animals to the temple? Imagine carrying an Ewe on your shoulders and having to drag yourself down a dusty un-tarred uphill road? We've been really SPOILT by God. We are the SPOILT kids.

jhazmyn said...

For me, its simply because He KNOWS my end from the beginning and I'd sure be dense in the head to think I could do a better job of charting my course than the one who created me

Pea said...

This is beautiful.

Unknown said...

his plans are always better
but the molding process is not much fun.

Jennifer A. said...

@Jhazmyn...I can just see the funny expression on your face as you said, "I'd sure be dense in the head to think I could do a better job of charting my course than the one who created me..." I feel you. Just that sometimes, it's the lack of this phenomenal knowledge that makes us think that way..."my people perish for lack of knowledge." But somehow, God always has a way of leading us back to Himself...

@Pea...:)

@Tisha...you're right, the molding process takes too long. That's why the clay was complaining. She just wanted to be done already. Geez!

Favorsheart said...

Who gives His ONLY son up for someone whose loyalty He cannot even vouch for...who does that?

Who surrounds His people like mountains around a city,does not sleep or slumber but stays awake just to make sure i'm breathing peacefully even though I might wake up without even a simple Hi ...I mean who does that?

Who went ahead to make me in His image and likeness, knowing well that there'll be times when I'll hardly feel like I have heavenly blood in my veins...Really,who?

How do I know that God's desires are way better than my own desires? Cos He told me himself...and He doesnt know how to lie.
He thought about me...
Then created me
Then breathe into me
Then set me up in a family
Then stood by as a shepherd with His rod and staff to keep me
Then arranged for me to meet all these wonderful bloggers...and plenty other reasons!

Thats how I know!

Thanks Jay(I've taken so much space already)

Mwajim Al said...

How do I know he knows best for me?
Because everything I have tried without leaning on His own understanding has FAILED! Every time I stubbornly think I am right, HE shows me patiently that I am wrong, and HE is forever right... Hard pill to swallow, but every time I let Him take control, the blessings are too many to be counted :)

Jennifer A. said...

@Mwajim...I feel you because there have been times in my life where I've stubbornly failed to see through His eyes, and you're right...gosh, He's so patient; a.k.a "The Patient Potter."

@Pawpawandmango..."He is not in submission to anyone or anything therefore he has no reason to lie" WORD!!! Thanks Pawpawandmango...that just made my night!

Justjoxy said...

This is so spot on. He is the potter, we are the clay. The moulding is a life long process, we are made better by the seemingly endless kneading that we go through, however unpleasant it may seem. Personally, I know God's will for me is perfect in spite of whatever happens. He's proven himself, time and again. He is a good God (and a master craftsman too).

Jennifer A. said...

@JustJoxy...when you said "He is a Master Craftsman, that just summed it up for me. No one else can mold us like He does. That's why I love Him like I do...thanks JJ :)