Do you do this? Absolutely… we all do! The ‘why’ we do this varies with both the person and the particular situation. We can so quickly get into a ‘can’t’ or ‘I’m not worthy’ or ‘surely not’ mindset. This really is a lack of trust in the Potter. Somehow, regardless of our previous experience, we don’t think God will continue to stay with us or that He really is preparing us for the upcoming assignment. Maybe we think/feel the preparation is way too difficult. Perhaps the prep stage is uncomfortable on many different levels. Whatever our reason… we jump off the Potter’s wheel.
What I have always found exceedingly comforting is that as easy as it is to get off the Potter’s wheel, it is just as easy to get back on. To repeat: our primary problem is an issue of trust. What we really need to ask ourselves is when did God not come through for us? When was He not faithful. Admittedly everything we put our hand to is not marked by success, but who initiated… God or ourselves? He told us He would never leave us, and He doesn’t.
What is the Potter’s wheel? It’s the time we surrender our ‘rights’, our privileges and trust the One who provides us our rights, our privileges. Sound counter intuitive? When we come to God with all we are and all we have and all we hope for and place it in His hands then He can do wondrous things with it and increase its value. The incredible fact is that He turns around and gives it back to us, greatly enhanced. What we need to remember is that this is then meant to help others, not to hoard, not to put on limited display. (1Corinthians)
However, when we don’t – and it really is our choice – allow God to prepare us, refine us for our next step then we go into it unprepared. Having done this any number of times, I really don’t recommend it – it can hurt. Being unprepared places us in the position of ‘catching up’ which only delays and rushes us along. The Potter’s wheel really is designed for our own good, our benefit… and that is terrific! In all instances the Potter is preparing us – He would never call us to an assignment that we could not accomplish. He prepares, He equips, He enables.
…but, what do you think?
