The Potter’s Shed
Where marred becomes beautiful . . .
“Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something at the wheel. 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.” Jeremiah 18:3-4 (NKJV)
Have you been marred in the hand of the Potter?
When I was a young Christian adult heading for college, I had a choice to make. I made the choice that seemed best to me at the time, and it set the course of my life for decades to come. I could say that if I was able to time travel back to that sharp point of decision, I would make a different one. But, honestly? I would probably make the same one again.
Here’s the truth.
If I were able to go back, I’d have to take myself with me—the same immature person I was then.
From my vantage point now, it was not the choice I should have made at the time. That decision, and its far-reaching consequences, marred me in the hand of the Potter. Lost opportunities and stunted spiritual growth were just two of those consequences.
It took years before I allowed the Potter to slap me back on the wheel and remake me. During that time, He allowed me to suffer harsh situations, soul-bending tragedy and heartbreak, and guilt-grief before I stopped running away from him on my stumpy legs of clay.
Rejected?
I thought the Potter had moved on to other lumps of clay to work, leaving me on His reject pile. But, I discovered the Potter has no reject pile! As soon as I stopped running, and turned in the direction of the Potter’s shed, I saw Him—standing next to His wheel, beckoning me. I stumbled forward, trembling and weak-kneed.
I expected admonitions, but when I got close enough to hear His voice, He said, “Deb, I have loved you with an everlasting love.” (Jeremiah 31:3 NKJV)
It was enough.
I can point you to the day and place when I took a flying leap back into His arms, and clutched his tunic in my shaking hands. “Potter, I’m afraid. Will this remaking hurt?”
He smiled, and, touching His forehead to mine, told me the truth. “Yes, at times it will. But I will be with you. And someday you’ll feel no pain ever again.”
Remade
The Potter tenderly laid me on the wheel and started the re-shaping of me into the woman He had in mind when He invented me. He continues today. I won’t leave His wheel until He calls me to His Table.
Have you been marred by circumstances and decisions? Go back to the Potter and jump back on His wheel. You’ll never regret it.
Great post, Deb! I think every single person has wanted to go back and change something about their lives, but God invented this interesting thing called time that only goes in one direction. (No matter what some of our sci-fi colleagues tell us!) I like the mature way you looked that this.
I just finished reading James L. Rubart’s book “The Five Times I Met Myself” that deals with this subject. He’ll be my guest on my blog on Feb 8. Please drop by.
Thanks, Kay! I’ve read Jim’s book (and several others…). If you haven’t read “Rooms”, you must.
You’ll have a blast with him. I went to his Rubart Writing Academy a couple of years ago and it was great.
Thanks for stopping by, and I’ll sneak in to see Jim, too.