A Year of Prayer: Season One Weekday DevotionalsUzorak

Jeremiah was in the potter’s house in this chapter, as God had led him to be. Was the potter his friend? Were people often allowed to watch him work? Did he stop what he was doing to greet Jeremiah as a customer or a counsellor?

Did Jeremiah keep insisting he keep working, as God had told him to observe the potter at work? Was the potter aware as Jeremiah watched him, or was his workshop open?

If he was aware of Jeremiah watching him and that God had ordained a holy audience - can you imagine the pressure as the following scripture unfolded?:

'…and I saw him working at the wheel. But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.' (Jeremiah 18:3-4 NIV)

Was there a moment of self-consciousness or frustration for this artist as the works of his hand suddenly failed? Was there irritation as the clay suddenly folded and pinched underneath his expert touch, reminding him that although he was a professional, he could still make mistakes?

Imagine something you have turned your hand to recently, in life or friendship or ministry, that’s suddenly folded before your very eyes. What things have suddenly gripped you as you wrestle with disappointment and frustration? Anger or sadness?

Yet the potter takes the clay and reshapes it into something new. It may not have been the original pot he’d hoped for; maybe it wasn’t as beautiful as the first idea had been. But he reshaped anyway - and more than that, the works of his hand glorified God because God had a greater picture in mind for this creation. It was to feature in the Bible forever and ever for us to read today.

'He said, “Can I not do with you, Israel, as this potter does?” declares the Lord. “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, Israel.' (Jeremiah 18:6 NIV)

We never know what our greatest failures or successes will do in the kingdom of God, but if we submit them to God’s hands, who knows what testimonies they will tell a thousand years from now?

Prayer: Jesus, thank you for taking my failure and me in your hands to reshape. Thank you with gratitude for the ways you have helped me, hoped in me, and never dropped me. God, shape me in the way you need me to be shaped so I may bring glory to your name.

Action: If you have any handmade pottery ceramics or other crafts in your house, take them out and contemplate the work that went into shaping them. Otherwise, Google handmade pottery or videos and look at the ways they are shaped. Ask God to give you a fresh revelation of God’s love for you in these instances.