God Can Do Whatever He Wants with Us

Dear reader, 

This letter is rather personal. I hope you’re alright with that. If not, you know that you can find something else to read. Let us continue. 

I’ve had a lot on my mind and heart lately. As we all probably do, I’m just becoming more self-aware of my struggles and the struggles of those around me. I believe that’s the Holy Spirit at work, not anything I could manifest on my own. 

The Church I worship with just finished up with a very good series on Suffering and Hurting. And all the different aspects we hurt. To finish up the series we focused on the fact that even in our hurt, our trials, and suffering we are still His. 

It’s always necessary to preach the gospel into the lies that we tell ourselves every day. And our pastor nailed it on the head. 

I happened to serve in the worship band that day, so I had the privilege to sit through both sermons. After the first time around there was a phrase that was highlighted within me as I was writing down my notes. 

‘Jars of Clay’. 

I immediately began to think about the 90’s worship rock band and the different songs that spoke such heavenly truth. But then my brain shifted gears and I began to look for that phrase throughout scripture. 

I looked up references for Clay, Jars, and finally Potter. 

I struck gold in Jeremiah 18: 1-6.

A brief synopsis: The Prophet Jeremiah was told by God to head over to a potter’s house, and there he would hear further instructions of what he was to say next to God’s people.

Jeremiah went to the house and he saw the potter hard at work, the vessel that he was working on was ‘spoiled’ and so he was reworking it in his hands. In Vs. 4 it says “...he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do.”

God then spoke to Jeremiah saying “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done? Declares the Lord. Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.”

Let me say the part again that pierced my heart. “...Can I not do with you as this potter has done?” 

Pause. 

Have you ever questioned what God is doing?

Have you ever said to Him, “You can’t do that.”? 

Have you ever told God what you want Him to do? 

We are the clay. 

He is the Potter. 

We don’t get a say in what He makes us to be. 

He is out Creator and Sustainer. 

He knows what we need to have our being.

We need Him. 

What gave us the right to doubt our Creator? 

Oh right. Sin. Our flesh. Our constant state of rebellion against The Holy God. 

This reality is heartbreaking. 

To think we can actually doubt the goodness of our Lord and King, and it would benefit us to do so.

We are in desperate need of Him. 

How could we doubt Him?

We are His handiwork. 

What we say and do either gives Him glory or stains His good name. 

Can we stop and meditate on that truth?

What we say and do either gives Him glory or stains His good name.

Think about that. 

Pray on that. 

We are mere clay in His loving hands. 

That’s a humbling reality when the world teaches us to-

“Write your own story” 

“Follow your heart.”

“You can’t be wrong.”

“Block out all those that disagree with you.” 

“Everyone has their own truth.” 

WE ARE ALL CREATED BY ONE GOD. 

WE WERE CREATED TO BE IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM.

WE ARE TO WORSHIP HIM IN EVERYTHING WE SAY OR DO IN THIS LIFE.

I needed to hear this. 

God knew that. 

I haven’t been able to shake it all last week. 

The truth remains, God’s word doesn’t return to Him void. 

I want to leave you with this. 

Isaiah 64:8

“But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.”

Don’t forget your Maker. 

Don’t forget your origin. 

Don’t forget your purpose. 

Humble yourself today. Let God mold you, let Him press out the sin and flesh that is active and well within you. It’s going to hurt terribly. But the Potter knows what He wants you to look like. 

He wants you to look like His Son. 

Jesus. 

Sincerely Your Fellow Lump of Clay, 

-Mitchell