Something Pretty to Look At

"3 So I went down to the potter’s house and saw him working with clay at the wheel. 4 He was making a pot from clay. But there was something wrong with the pot. So the potter used that clay to make another pot. With his hands he shaped the pot the way he wanted it to be. 5 Then this message from the LORD came to me: 6 “Family of Israel, you know that I can do the same thing with you. You are like the clay in the potter’s hands, and I am the potter.” This message is from the LORD."

Jeremiah 18:3-6

(Easy-to-Read-Version, Biblegateway.com)

A friend of mine gave me a plant one year for Valentine's Day as a thank you for leading a class at our homeschool group. It was a very cute little rose plant. Beautiful bright red mini roses graced the leaves. Now I do not have a green thumb. As a matter of fact, I was nervous when she gave it to me but I told her that I would do my best. I bought a pot for it and decorated the pot so that it could have a nice home. I consulted my neighbor who is wonderful at gardening and she gave me a few tips. I sat it on the end table where I spend time in prayer. There it could receive sun from the window. My plan was to lovingly care for it everyday.

Each day I opened the shades to give it a little sun and every few days as instructed I would water it. I even fed it, as instructed, so that it would be healthy. It was my desire to give this little plant all the love and care that it needed.

Pretty soon the roses had all dried up and fallen off but I saw some signs of life. I wasn't sure if this was part of the normal process or not so I continued my routines. After almost two months I didn't notice any new roses forming and became discouraged. I thought to myself that I wanted something pretty to look at. I then heard God say, "I am working". He spoke to my spirit and said that although it appears as if nothing good is coming out of this, it will.

Jeremiah 18:4 tells us that there was something wrong with the pot that the potter was making. So he made another pot from the same clay the way "He" wanted it to be. He transformed it from what it was into something better. How often do we grow impatient with God's process? How often do we feel that there has to be an easier, faster way? Jesus may have thought that very same thing as He endured all He did before dying on the cross. But it was worth it. The end justified the means.

I want to encourage you to hold on to God's unchanging hand. Look to Christ for strength. Wait on Him to finish His great work in you.

Prayer: Lord I often grow weary. At times I feel overwhelmed with where I am especially when it seems as if life is going on without me. Give me peace Father and help me to be patient as I wait on You. In Jesus name I pray. Amen

Sheryll