Yet you, LORD, You are our Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter, we are all the work of Your hand. Isaiah 64:8 (NIV)


A museum trip revealed all sorts of clay objects. Figurines of animals and people were colorfully painted. Jars and bowls were made of simple, unadorned clay, or were highly decorated with colored glaze, metals, or even covered with inlaid jewels. A porcelain-headed doll resembled one my grandmother had. Some items were used for religious purposes. Creations varied from tiny miniatures to the very large. It was fascinating to see so many uses of clay.

We’ve focused on our role as clay and God’s role as our Potter this year. He purifies us and makes us into good clay (1 John 1:9–10). He removes our sin and molds us. He seals the believer’s salvation and inheritance with Him (Ephesians 1:13–14). He helps us stay centered. He’s with us when we are waiting, in our dry times, and when we are in the “fire” of trials (Romans 8:35–39). Our Potter makes us according to His design (Genesis 1:26–27; Romans 8:28–30).

What has impacted you about God being your Potter? Please share in the comments.

Are you pliable in God’s hands?

As I’ve thought of these things, and Isaiah 64:8, above, here are some of my thoughts.

We have great intimacy with our Creator. The Lord is our Father. Paul referred to us being privileged to call God ‘Abba, Father,’ when we have received the Spirit of adoption into God’s family through Christ (Romans 8:14–17).

As our Potter, He is with us. His hands are on us. He shapes us, restores us, and finishes the work He started. His eyes never leave us.

The creativity of our Potter is amazing. He makes every one of us special and one-of-a-kind.

There is humility in us being the clay in the Potter’s hands. We can’t create ourselves.

God is sovereign over us. He has a plan and a purpose for each of our lives. Paul wrote to the Romans,

But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’” Does not the potter have a right to make from the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use? Romans 9:20–21 (NIV)

Our Potter is wise. He alone has the wisdom needed to make us into the masterpieces that He is creating. He uses different trials and circumstances in our lives to get rid of the sin that keeps us from being shaped into His design. When we are broken, He restores us.

He gifts us with the strength needed for what He has planned for us. For example, when I was in school, I would tremble making speeches or presentations. The thought of speaking before a group terrified me! I wouldn’t have believed that I would someday teach adults or lead prayer groups. At the time God led me to each of these things, I went in obedience, but with fear of failure. God taught me that He would empower me to accomplish what He set out for me, but that I can not do it without Him (Philippians 4:13).

How is God using you? Are you open to what he has planned for you? Please share your experiences or insights in the comments.

My prayer for us comes from verse one of a 1906 hymn, Have Thine Own Way, Lord!

Have thine own way, Lord!
Have thine own way!
Thou art the potter,
I am the clay.
Mold me and make me
after thy will,
while I am waiting,
yielded and still.

Amen.

On August 1, we will finish this series of Clay in the Potter’s Hands with a special guest, Nika Marcum. Her devotional on God is the Potter features the Japanese art of pottery repair known as Kintsugi. You won’t want to miss her insights on restoration and renewal!

###

Have Thine Own Way, Lord! Hymn text was written by Adelaide A. Pollard, and the tune was composed by George C. Stebbins. Public domain.

Scriptures marked NIV are taken from the NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION (NIV): Scripture taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ®. Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™. Used by permission of Zondervan.