We have a concept of what we hope for, pray for, believe in, and work towards. But then things happen in life that are unexplainable. They most likely haven’t been on our agenda. But they still happen.
You might have prayed last year saying, “Lord, I didn’t pray for this to happen in 2020. I wanted to wake up spiritually and have a revival, but I didn’t know I had to take all of this… I didn’t know the price that I had to pay!”
Now we stand at the end of 2020 and despite the struggle, we might have something of great value in our spirit to show for. It’s because you paid a great price of praying, weeping, and fasting.
Does this relate to you?
The Potter’s Clay
Of course, we’re trusting that 2021 is going to be a great year. But God can’t make us until he breaks us. See, God is the potter and we are the clay. So, he’s molding, making, and creating within us a clean heart and a new spirit.
Maybe you even prayed, “Lord, create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me!” (Having put 2020 behind me, I pray this prayer with more insight and wisdom.)
A lot of times we just throw out this prayer, “Lord, whatever it takes – just break me and make me!”
Well, now such a prayer has a completely different meaning. Now we might add something like, “Lord, season it with grace!”
We want to go forward to grow more in God, but boy, the breaking can be quite severe.
In all of this remember and be glad that God loves you. He’s a good, good Father that cares for you. He will not put more on you than what you can endure. He’ll lead you on and of course, he will stretch you. You might even pray out loud in anguish. Then he’ll answer and let off a little bit.
Nevertheless, you’ll find yourself stretched. Meanwhile, he’ll not put more on you than you can bear. He allows the troubles and trials of this life to come at us. Though it’s not his will that we experience them, it says that “all things work together for good.” (Romans 8:28).
Sometimes, a lot of our own troubles and storms of life also come because of our own wrongdoing.
Sometimes it even feels like you’re just spinning out of control. But don’t worry! You’re not going to go off the potter’s wheel. You might be spinning, but if you look under the table to see who’s pumping the pedal, you will see God is in control.
Don’t worry! There will be a time where the molding will slow down. And when it does, all these rough places will be smooth. That’s the process of becoming vessels of honor for his namesake.