'Marred' Vessel

Have you ever wonderful why God is taking me through this painful path? Why this is happening in my life? 

God has a very special plan and purpose for each of our lives, and He works relentlessly to cause that plan and purpose to come to pass. Everything that happens in our lives, happens for a season and reason.

The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord saying, "Arise and go down to the potter's house, and there I shall announce my words to you." Then I went down to the potter's house, and there he was, making something on the wheel. But the vessel that he was making of clay was spoiled in the hand of the potter; so he remade it into another vessel, as it pleased the potter to make. Then the word of the Lord came to me saying, "Can I not, O house of Israel, deal with you as this potter does?" declares the Lord. "Behold, like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel." Jeremiah 18:1-6

What can we learn from this important passage of scripture?

A Vessel 'Marred' in His Hand

As the potter worked to form the vessel, he noticed that for some reason the vessel wasn't turning out the way he intended. Scripture says that the vessel was 'marred'. Marred means - unfit. There was something about the vessel that the potter was forming that caused it to be defective.

Sometimes we're on the potter's wheel and we know why. Other times we are on the potter's wheel and we don't know why. As far as we can tell, we're doing everything we can to serve God and to do His will. But then, without any warning or explanation, we feel the pressure of the potter's hand as He is remolding and remaking us.

Sometimes when this happens, the temptation is for us to become angry with God and perhaps question His wisdom and goodness.

Just because we don't understand doesn't mean that there's not an explanation. It only means that the created cannot always understand the Creator. The created cannot always see the areas in their lives that need improvement. We must choose to trust in the goodness of God and seek His will and He reveals it. 

Sometimes the process will be very painful and confusing. But perhaps it is in those moments of pain and confusion that God is able to do some of His best work. Perhaps it is in those moments of brokenness that the Potter is able to gently fashion the vessel into something beautiful for His glory.