The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps. Proverbs 16:9, ESV
Several years ago, my church brought in a special guest speaker: Potter’s Field Ministries with Mike and Pam Rozell. It was one of the most unique and powerful sermons I’ve ever experienced. On the stage was a clay potter’s wheel and a man with wild hair, wearing a full apron. His wife was seated nearby, holding a microphone. As she told the story of their tumultuous individual upbringings and the rocky early years of their marriage, he took a large lump of clay and wordlessly worked it into a large, perfectly symmetrical vase. Their story was filled with vanity, pride, wealth, abuse, addiction, and dysfunction.
Then, just when the audience could really start to see the vase take shape, he punched straight through the center of it with his fist.
We all gasped.
Was this part of the plan?
Yes. It was.
The husband then took over the storytelling as he continued to work the clay. He smushed it back down into a formless lump and, with exceptional artistry and precision, made it into a pitcher instead. As he worked, he described how God had to take away all of the plans he had made for his own life and his own success and break him so that He could mold him into the man He wanted to use for His kingdom and His glory. At the end, he revealed a pitcher like the one on stage that had already been dried, fired, and glazed: a beautiful vessel designed for pouring.
Have you ever tried to plan out your life, making it go as smoothly as possible, and then, out of nowhere, you get a fist to the gut, and everything falls apart? All that’s left is you and God.
Sometimes, God has to forcibly wipe away all of our own self-reliance, ambition, and pride to make us into who He created us to be: a vessel worthy of the honor, ready to pour out our lives in service to others for His glory.
What kind of gut-punch has God given you lately? Recognize it for the gift that it is: a calling to rely on Him more fully, trust Him more deeply, and know Him more intimately. Yield yourself as clay in the hands of the Potter: He has a better plan for your life than anything you could ever make for yourself!
God, help me to yield willingly to You today. Open the eyes of my heart to see how You want to use the brokenness in my life for my good and for Your glory. Give me ears to hear, eyes to see, and hands that are open to receive the good things You want to give to me and do in me. Clarify my vision to align with Yours, and help me to trust in Your plan for my life instead of my own. Thank You, God, for Your enduring faithfulness and love toward me. Amen.
Copyright Rhapsody Jordan-Parisi.
Rhapsody is a Christian Educators member and high school English teacher from North Carolina. She is passionate about helping overwhelmed teachers reclaim their time and peace of mind through support, encouragement, and intentional strategies. You can connect with her at tightropeteaching.com.
