Moldable Clay

“Yet Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we all are the work of your hands.” Isaiah 64:8

When I was 9 years old in 4th grade, I was on a class field trip to a pottery studio. We were each given a slab of clay and were allowed to make anything we wanted. With my clay, I made this cross. Although I don’t remember the exact process I went through to make this cross, I can imagine I had to smash the clay, squeeze it in my hands repeatedly until it was soft and pliable - then press it, shape it, and mold it. I am sure I did this multiple times before I was content with what this cross looked like. 

Fast forward a few decades, I am now a teacher and two years ago I ended up doing a clay project with my elementary school students. I gave them each a slab of clay and watched as they were so excited to mold and shape this clay into the cup, bowl, or figurine they had pre-planned in their minds. Little did they know that they too, would have to smash the clay and squeeze it repeatedly until it was soft and pliable. Only then were they able to mold the clay into the desired form they had chosen.

This is exactly what God wants to continuously do with us. He is the master potter and we are His clay. He wants to mold us and shape us into the design He had chosen for our lives long before we were ever conceived in our mother’s womb. Just as the clay in my project and my students’ project needed to be squeezed and softened before it could be molded, this is the same for us. God needs to soften us and squeeze some things out of us before He can begin molding us into His chosen design for our lives.  

In choosing to trust God with this process of molding and shaping our lives, it may not always be easy, the tears may flow and the heart may ache - as God  releases things out of us that were never meant to be a part of our lives in the first place. But in this process of squeezing, there is also unexplainable joy, peace, and comfort that come with knowing we are being shaped by the God of all creation. Once He has squeezed and softened our hearts, He is then able to mold us and shape us into the precious design He always had planned for us.

God knows what He is doing, and we can trust Him. He is the ultimate potter and He wants to mold and shape us all into beautiful vessels that can be used for His glory. Will you trust Him enough to allow Him to squeeze you so that he can shape you and mold you? 

Journal Prompt - Was there ever a time when God was trying to squeeze something out of you that no longer served you? Were you willing to go through this process, or were you hesitant? If you are on the other side of that process, how have you seen the fruit of that squeezing now showing up in your life? How can you start trusting God today so that He can mold you and shape you into His unique design?

“Yet Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we all are the work of your hands.” Isaiah 64:8

Prayers & Love Always