In The Potter's Hands Pressures, Trials, And Fire In The Path Of Faith “Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed [it], Why hast thou made me thus?" (Rom. 9:2020Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? (Romans 9:20)).
When sorrows deep, and burdens, mount.
And tears well up as from a fount,
My child's heart is wont to say
"Wherein has Thou thy love displayed?”
Thy rod I feel, the pressure builds,
My Potter's hand its strength doth wield,
And I, an unformed lump of clay,
Ask "Why has Thou formed me this way?”
My Father's heart, how must it ache,
When I His love and grace mistake,
For vengeance or a pleasure vain,
When He doth keenly feel my pain?
How dare I reason—feeble mind!
Or doubt the plan, wise and Divine,
Which, using pressure, fire or flood,
Would form a vessel honoring God?
Bob Short, 2002
Many times in our lives events and circumstances that seem particularly hard or discouraging are allowed by our wise and loving Father. No doubt each have at times wondered how it is that divine love could order such painful trials and testings—what possible purpose could be served by such difficulties and sorrows? Broken dreams, broken hearts, failure as husbands and wives, as parents, as children, as brethren in Christ—Oh! how despondent thoughts flood in at these times!
Perhaps one has longed to serve the Lord Jesus effectively—desiring that this life would count for something and that there might be the joy of receiving His approval in that coming day of glory. Then the dark, menacing clouds of doubt because of past all too frequent and miserable failures loom on the horizon and once again the storm of discouragement breaks on you. Then come the flood of questions: "How could He ever use me after how badly I have failed Him? He can't trust me to do anything for Him again so why not just give up.”
Maybe you're seeking to serve the Lord, feeling very clear that He has led you into a particular ministry, only to find such a host of trials and pressures that it now seems you must surely have missed His mind about entering into that service.
At these moments it seems almost impossible to be able to say in the confidence of faith: "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me". Beset with the howling winds of discouragement, we can easily fail to hear His tender and comforting words;"! the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee" (Isa. 41:1313For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. (Isaiah 41:13)).
For all these reasons and more, we begin to think of ourselves as cracked, worthless vessels, without hope of being used of our blessed Lord. It is easy at such times for a discouraged soul to utter in the spirit of dear Peter; "depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord". Yet the Lord surely would lovingly and gently rebuke such thoughts as being unworthy of His love and wisdom for each of His precious redeemed own. What a gentle admonition we hear from His blessed heart: "If thou losest courage in the day of trouble, thy strength is small" (Prov. 24:1010If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small. (Proverbs 24:10), JND trans.).
Remember what was said to Joshua when Moses had died and he was chosen to lead God's beloved people into the promised land? "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee..."(Josh. 1:99Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. (Joshua 1:9)).
Dear believer, you and I will never have the wisdom to decide when or where or how the Lord can best use us for His honor and for the blessing of others. Those decisions are made according to His sovereign will alone. Our part is to present ourselves as living sacrifices, holy, acceptable to God—not morally conformed to this world, but transformed from it, that we might be serviceable to Him.
It is in the transforming of ourselves into a vessel meet for the Master's use that we find often painful, difficult trials. In order that this forming be done right the touch of the Master's hands is required. We soon learn that while this forming process in our lives isn't always comfortable or easy, it is indispensable if we are to become what the Lord desires us to be.
Come with me then and let's together visit to the potter's house following the prophet Jeremiah's steps. There we will watch the potter at work, seeking to learn how it is that a lump of sticky, apparently useless mud is turned into a beautiful, valuable piece of pottery-a vessel...meet for the Master's use, and prepared unto every good work. (2 Tim. 2:2121If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. (2 Timothy 2:21)).