Sometimes we plan our future as if we know everything and God, who made us in His image, is not very competent at what He does. We tend to think that God is like the flawed person we have become. In our arrogance we may think that we can tell God that he made a mistake in the way he formed us, and the purpose for which we were created. Some people may even believe that God has no right to have input into their existence.
The Bible helps us understand God’s role in our life plan with the story of a potter forming a pot.
This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: “Go down to the potter’s 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. He said, “Can I not do with you, Israel, as this potter does?” declares the Lord. “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, Israel. (Jeremiah 18:1-6 NIV) Jeremiah listened for God to speak and obeyed what He heard God say. While waiting at the potter’s house for God to give him the promised message, Jeremiah paid attention to the potter at his wheel. It was THEN that the word of the Lord was revealed to him.
Where are we in our life journey with God in recovery? Many times we want to understand everything about who we are and what lies ahead before we are willing to trust God. We expect too much too soon. The truth is, God has a wonderful plan and purpose for our lives but it takes time for that plan to be formed in us. What does the lump of clay know about the plan? Nothing. It’s only the potter who has the vision and skill to plan and shape a seemingly useless lump of clay into a beautiful vessel. Are we willing to trust God with all the details of our life and the plan he has for our future?
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. (Proverbs 3:5-7 NIV)
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