This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: "Go down to the potters house and there I will give you my message." So i went down to the potter's house, 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.
Then the word of the Lord came to me: "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?" declares the Lord. "Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel. If at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down and destroyed, and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then i will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned. And if at another tie I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be built up and planted and if it does evil in my sight and does not obey me, then i will reconsider the good I had planned for it.
We all feel like we're not where we're supposed to be and feel so imperfect and like there's nothing good about is. And when we're feeling out of place or hurting, it can seem like we're being punished. But God is just shaping us into what he wants us to be. It never makes sense to us because his wisdom is far greater than ours. When he breaks us, it feels like he's punishing us but God is in the business of using broken people. He seldom uses someone greatly that he hasn't broken deeply. In order for him to use us in the way he wants to he has to beak us so that we learn to trust only in him and learn to mold and form in his hands.
Like the potter adds water to the clay to mold it, God's gonna pour on us the living water and also the troubles and trials that are needed to prepare us to walk with him and to be equipped to do the task he has in store for us and to do it in such a way that will bring him the glory that is rightfully his and to best further his kingdom and add to it. God has so many blessings in store for us. but if we disobey him, it is possible that he will with hold those blessings and bestow them on someone else. for instance, if God puts it on your heart to talk to someone - be it about him or just to reach out a hand of friendship, that friendship could be a tremendous blessing on both parties involved. But if you refuse, because you're afraid or the person isn't the person who you would normally talk to, we'll miss out on that relationship. but God wont let that blessing go to waste. if that person needs someone he's not going to leave them with no one. so he'll send another more willing person to do what he'd originally asked you to do, and that person will receive the blessing that was originally meant for you.
God is a just God. He punishes evil doers. (Psalm 32:10) But doesn't everyone make mistakes? yes. isn't everyone sinful? Yes. Not only is God a just God, but he is also a MERCIFUL God. If anyone does wrong in the eyes of God, He is quick to forgive us. but we have to first ask for it. (1 John 1:9) At the same time, if we displease God, he will discipline us like a father disciplines his son not to punish us but to help us to grow and to learn from our mistakes(Hebrews 12:5-11). But sometimes, it is not because of anything that we've done that God allows trials and tribulations to come our way.
Everything that we go through has a purpose. Take me for example. Since i was in grade 6, I've struggled with Self-Injury. While it is a struggle that never really goes away, it is one that can be overcome by the grace of God. dealing with this has enabled me to learn that no matter how difficult the struggle or how strong the temptation, it is possible to over come. (1 Corinthians 10:13) Dealing with the struggles that I've Gone through in the past has enabled me to help others with similar struggles. This is why i love the verse in Romans that says that all things work together for the good of those who love God. (v28) While it may be wrong of me but i take a slightly different interpretation of this verse than some might. i tend to be intentionally dyslexic when it comes to this verse. instead of "for the good of those that love God" i like to say "for the good of those that God loves." i don't believe that the two are always interchangeable because though God loves everyone, not everyone loves God. But with this particular verse, i have my own way of looking at it.
God loves everyone, and He wants all of us to serve Him and have an abundant life (John 10:10). So this is why I believe that this particular verse can be flipped and still be accurate. It may not always be the case because as we all no, not everyone will come to believe in God prior to judgement day. Many souls will never be turned away from the road that leads to destruction(Matthew 7:13), this is something that none of us can deny. But I also know that it is God's will that NONE should parish (2 Peter 3:9). It is because of this, among other reasons, that I like to flip that verse. It is hard for me to explain my exact reasoning for the way i view this verse, because I'm not very good with words. But I do strongly believe that God will work everything out according to his perfect will. Take each of our salvation stories. Especially those who come from a "worse" background than others. Say those of us who come from abusive backgrounds be it within your family or in dating relationships. How could any good possibly come out of death?Moreover, how can ANY good come out of a world filled with sin?
I said earlier that God is in the business of using broken people. He takes joy in mending broken hearts and loves holding His children near and catching every tear that falls from their eyes. But God also enjoys taking something that is broken and turning it into something that is beautiful. Take for instance The Riverside Center, located in Lincoln Heights, Washington, DC. There is a wall of their building as well as the sign for Marvin Gay Park across the street that is made entirely of broken glass. So what right? broken glass, can be bought or made very easily. but the broken glass used in these cases is no ordinary broken glass. this glass was found in the park. this glass - to me and to others - represents how broken this neighborhood really is. but it was taken and made into something that is really beautiful. the same way, God uses us in our brokenness and turns our pain into something beautiful.
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