by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta
I learned 4
lessons from a clay pot during a pottery demonstration.
I watched a potter spin the wheel with his foot. The talented hands worked the clay until it softened enough to form a pliable lump. Even though his hands moved and formed, the clay had to submit to the fingers pressing on it. If the clay was too hard, the bowl he wanted to create would not turn out like he planned.
Lesson # 1 –
We must submit to our spiritual Potter, the Lord, for our hearts to be softened
enough to be usable vessels.
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 18:4 NKJV)
The potter in
the demonstration revealed a clay bowl that had not been fired. This vessel had
been left in the air to dry. While it was dry and hard, it was also fragile. The
edge had broken off.
When he tried
to pick the bowl up by the rim, the clay, although dry, was not strong enough
to withstand the pressure of his hands. The artist flicked his finger against
the rim of the bowl and the pottery made a dull clunking sound.
A second bowl
on the table had been through one firing. He flicked his finger against the rim
and a ringing sound was heard. The firing of the clay had made the bowl
stronger and the sound happier.
However, one firing
is not the final step. A second firing is necessary after a glaze is applied to
create a beautiful color. But the second firing also created a more distinct
and bell tone ring when flicked with the artist’s finger.
Lesson # 2 –
We can still sing even when we our lives feel like we are in the fire.
Rejoice in the Lord always.
Again I will say, rejoice! (Philippians 4:4)
(Remember Paul
was in a prison when he wrote this. I would say he was definitely in a fire of
life.)
Sometimes we
are told that the trials (or the firings) of life make us stronger. But if that
were true, we would all be the strongest of Christians because we all go
through trials and difficulties in our lives.
Lesson # 3 – We grow stronger because we
overcome in the midst of the trials, not just because we go through them.
Blessed is the one who
perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive
the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. (James 1:12 NIV)
Clay pots that
go through firings can come out broken and useless. The difference is in the
strength of the clay.
When we stand
on the Word of God to withstand temptation, discouragement, and difficulty, we
come out of the fire better than we were before and we have a song. A song of a
stronger faith, a song of deliverance from our Savior, and a song of victory.
We can know the
next time we face something we have an arsenal of weapons in our fired clay. How
strong we are in faith determines if we crumble or not.
When we realize
these truths, we can view those fired times as an opportunity to become a
strong vessel. Trials don’t make us stronger. Standing strong through the fire
makes us stronger. We can become ash or a singing vessel.
Lesson # 4 - God doesn’t send the
trials. The difficulties come from our enemy because he wants to discourage us
enough to get us to give up and stay away from the Word of God.
But since they have no
root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of
the word, they quickly fall away. (Mark 4:17).
That’s why when
we stand on the Word, we can be in the fire without being consumed. And our
song will keep on singing.
What helps you stay
strong during trials? Join the conversation.
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As I go through through the trials I hold on to Gods promise he will never leave me.
ReplyDeleteAnd what a promise to stand on! We can be assured we are never alone during any time of life. Thanks for sharing. Blessings!
DeleteOh what good lessons you gleaned from your pottery-making experience. My favorite is Lesson One. I love how God speaks to us through our daily activities when we tune in and pay attention.
ReplyDeleteMe too, Candyce. Our daily lives are filled with messages if we will listen. Thanks for sharing. Blessings!
DeleteInteresting lessons!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing, Debbie. Blessings!
DeleteYour message is very thought provoking--in a good way. The old saying, "Our trials make us stronger," is partly true, I believe. However, your clarification is right on target. It's how we react to the trial which determines whether we are stronger in faith after the trial. If we depend on our Lord, praying, seeking guidance, following His word to find wisdom, then we come out stronger on the other side of the challenge. Thank you, Barbara.
ReplyDeleteIt's great to know we have Christ in us and with us to make us strong through those trials. Thanks for sharing, Katherine. Blessings!
DeleteThank you Barbara, you gave me lots to ponder with your perfect analogy. I want to try pottery making someday.
ReplyDeleteI love pottery, and I have tried making it. It's not as easy as it looks. My hunk of clay flew off the wheel and landed on the floor. I think that's why this analogy spoke to me so vividly. I hope you have better success than I did. Thanks for sharing, Yvonne. Blessings!
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