Laura’s Life Lesson – October

The Pastor's desk
<sup>from the desk of</sup><br>Pr. Becky Hand, MDiv
from the desk of
Pr. Becky Hand, MDiv

Faith Fellowship Church

“Yet, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all works of your hand.”

When I was in high school I was enrolled in art class for two years. One of my favorite things to do was work with clay. I had the opportunity to do a variety of projects, and one of the best things about working with clay was that I could easily start over if a project wasn’t turning out the way that I wanted. Starting over, however, required some extra work. When we initially started projects we used pieces of clay cut off a fresh block. These blocks were vacuum sealed to ensure that no air bubbles were trapped in the clay. If you wanted to start a project over with clay you had already been working, you had to knead the clay and apply pressure to ensure that all the air was pressed out. If you did not go through the process of applying pressure and kneading the clay your project would blow up when it was fired in the kiln.

The Bible makes many references to clay and potters. The two most prevalent themes are that we, humans, are formed by God and that the clay cannot tell the potter how to form it. A glob of wet dirt telling a potter how it wants to be formed is an amusing thought, but the comparison becomes more significant when we remember that we are the clay and God is the potter. Romans 9:20-21 says, “But who are you, a human being to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’ Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use?”

Being shaped and formed by God is not always a pleasant experience. Sometimes it can feel like God is applying great pressure to push all the air bubbles out. Remember though that pressure is necessary before a new project can be started. The leader of a non-profit told me once that it is important to “get comfortable with being uncomfortable because it is through discomfort that we often grow the most.” Pressure and discomfort are things that we often try to avoid because they are not pleasant. God, however, applies pressure in order to form us into the masterpiece that He wants each and every one of us to be.

God is also continuing to form Faith Fellowship. I know that God has wonderful things in store for this congregation because like each of its members it is beautifully and wonderfully made. Faith Fellowship is a work of God’s hands. Join me this month in praying for Faith Fellowship as God continues to form us into the congregation He wants us to be.

Laura Webb

You might also enjoy

Click to access the login or register cheeseScroll to Top