The other night I was thinking, over coffee this time not while mowing the yard. Mostly I was thinking about how people often describe their trials as storms. I look back at my life and think, "I've been through some big ones." Then, the weather man came on and said something like notice this circular motion forming this tropical storm. I began to think about the circular motion and God and then it hit me, "what if the storms are simply God putting us on His potter's wheel." Storms are often uncontrollable but there is a sense of plan in the wheel.
I know God uses lots of things to shape us and I don't want to minimize someone's storm. But how often is what we call a storm simply not getting what we want. I'll be the first to admit my own selfishness. James says something similar in his epistle about our desires causing the problems.
Maybe instead we could see ourselves spinning on God's wheel. We need to yield, bend, bow to his firm, gentle pressure. He's in control and has a picture in His mind of what He's making but the spinning is disorienting and difficult. Instead of moldable we're often dry and hardened, fixed on what we want. Oh, to be refreshed and in His hands.
In our leader's guide there is a picture of a potter's wheel and the potter's hands. Wow, were they dirty! God gets right in there with us, molding the raw materials of our hearts. It's messy business but God loves His work. He doesn't stand far off and just shout to/at us. He loved enough to send His one of a kind Son to redeem you and me.
So much for thinking.
Well, first of all, I love your thinking!……thank you for your insight…..the storms in my recent life have seemed like a tornado, as you well know,..something spinning and taking me to a place that seems to have no end……thank you for the prespective that it does not have to be a pointless spin, but instead can be God’s remaking me into a better image of Him…..and instead of becoming dizzy, I can focus on the point of Him and His will and like the ballet dancer learns to spin, centered and not out of control…..Please continue…..”thinking”…..xox L.