On the Potter’s Wheel

I once visited a potter’s house in Greece and tried my hand at throwing the clay. It was a lot harder than I thought. The potter, on the other hand, was very capable. He could take lumps of nothingness and form it into amazing pots.

Writing to the believers in Rome, the apostle Paul said, “Who are you, a mere human being, to argue with God? Should the thing that was created say to the one who created it, ‘Why have you made me like this?’ When a potter makes jars out of clay, doesn’t he have a right to use the same lump of clay to make one jar for decoration and another to throw garbage into?” (Romans 9:20–21 NLT).

God has us on His wheel, and we decide whether to be resistant or pliable. We can actually sabotage God’s plans for our lives. God’s plans for us are better than our plans for ourselves. But we can still sabotage them by being resistant.

Yes, God chooses you, but you must choose Him as well.

Philippians 2 says, “Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him” (verses 12–13 NLT).

God has a plan. Don’t sabotage it. I know things seem random at times. There are times when I’ve said, “Lord, I don’t get this at all. This makes no sense to me.”

But here’s what I do understand. God loves me. God chose me. And He is in control of my life.

His plan for you will come together. It all will make sense one day. Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow. But one day. Until that day, be pliable clay on the Potter’s wheel. And watch what the Lord will do.