Beautiful Dirt

Reading Isaiah 64 and Jeremiah 18 today I put myself in the shoes of the clay; if that is possible. I began thinking about how clay is prepared by the potter to be shaped into something of his/her desire. I am not a potter, but I remember fourth grade art. I remember playing with 'Playdough' with my kids. I remember watching some potters through my lifetime and seeing their intense working of the clay.
Sometimes the clay is kneaded like bread dough to work in water and soften it. Sometimes it is rolled to lengthen it. Sometimes it is even thrown on the ground in an effort to promote elasticity. My kids used to put 'Playdough' in little vices and 'pasta' making machines and squish it until it submitted to them.
Well, maybe we can take the metaphor too far. But, God does want us to be like clay in His hands. The illustration in Jeremiah is of a potter changing his mind mid-creation. It even alludes to the fact that the first idea didn't work out (I'm not sure if that was because the clay didn't submit, but it may be implied.) so he finished with a whole new idea.
Three thoughts come to mind here. First, God wants to take us and make us into something. We don't have to make ourselves into something. We don't have to 'become' what God desires for us. We only need to submit ourselves to the potter's hand and allow him to make us into his desired image! That is not necessarily easy, but possible. I believe it takes humility and pressure from the Holy Spirit. I don't know if God intentionally throws us on the ground or puts us through a vice-like pasta machine, but, if he did, would we submit? If his preparation for making us into his image caused pain, would we say he was a bad God and jump off the table? James says that our trials cause us to mature. Isaiah asks why the clay should be able to tell the potter what to make it into. I'm not saying that God hurts us on purpose. I'm saying that cutting things out of our life and taking an honest look at how we need to change might hurt. But, in the long run, God's intentions for us are to allow us to look back in the mirror and be pleased by seeing his creation.
Second, if you are in a situation that seems like no one nor nothing can fix it; don't give up on God! He is able to take clay that no one else (even the clay itself) could make beautiful and make it an amazing creation! Just because we sinned or wandered away or rebelled in some other way doesn't mean God can't make something of our lives! Jump back on the table. Let the Holy Spirit add a little water. Let God begin to work with you again. He can and will create something that you never dreamed could come from your life!
Third, don't be jealous of what your neighbor, spouse, children, friends at church, or anyone else is shaping up to look like. Just because you are an art piece and your neighbor is a bowl doesn't mean you won't be used. Just because you are a cup and you think your spouse the wind chime is much more attractive than you doesn't mean that God doesn't see beauty in you! Listen to Simon Cowell. Save us all from embarrassment. Don't join the choir of you can't sing. God works miracles, but allow him to give you a singing voice before you join...please. My point is that we are all being made into the image that God wants if we are submitting to him! There is beauty and purpose in all of us in his hands!
So, while the image of being clay is not always pleasant, we are God's clay and that is what matters! We are Gods and God is ours and the relationship is one of long standing plan and preparation for this time in history; and we are part of it. Keeping in step with the Spirit means that we look in the mirror to see what God is creating, not to see what we want to see.