The Potter’s Hands

by David Huff

Back when I was in school, we had a pottery class where we would make many different things. I remember making a box and a cup that you could drink out of. We would work and work on the clay, forming it the way we wanted it. And just when we would think we had it perfect, an imperfection would pop into it. So, we would gently start all over again. Instead of throwing the clay away for a new piece, we would simply begin remolding it, forming the bottom and sides once again.

God works with us in the same way. In the story of the potter’s house, Jeremiah was sent to watch how the potter worked with the clay. Jeremiah 18:1-4, “This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: ‘Go down at once to the potter’s house, and there I will reveal My words to you.’ So, I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was working away at the wheel. But the jar he was making from the clay became flawed in the potter’s hand, so he made it into another jar as it seemed right for him to do.”

When God is working on us, in many times, we allow sin to flaw us. But instead of God throwing us out, He gently starts all over and begins molding and forming us once again. In these moments of molding, it can hurt, and it can seem like God is pouring pressure on us to live a sinless life. While yes, God may want us not to sin, He also knows we are in a human form, and we have a human condition that we have to crucify every day. Knowing this, God simply starts the molding process over, and begins to mold, shape, and form us once again. Isaiah 64:8, “Yet you, Lord, are the Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter; we are all the work of your hands.”

The reason that God continues to work at molding and forming us is because a clay vessel with a hole in it will never hold anything. The substance that is put inside of it will continue to leak out no matter how you pour into it. Patch and repair the hole, and the vessel will hold what you pour into it. Our hurts, addictions, and flaws are these holes. God wants to repair and heal them so we can hold what He wants to pour into us. So, God continues to mold and repair each and every one of the flaws that we hold inside of us. God wants us to look more like Him and less like the world. Therefore, He continues to pour into us. He continues to mold us with the purifying and healing love that only God can give. Let the potter’s hands work to heal your imperfections and take you into a new life.

About The Author My name is David Huff, and I am married to Brittany and together we have five wonderful kids. We attend Rock Bridge Community Church Calhoun where I serve on the prayer team, host team, production team, and a small group co-leader. I am also a senior at Lee University.