You Potter, Me Clay
It wasn't suppose to be this way. Bob was told in no uncertain terms that the company did not allow trainees to cut short their training. He wasn't due to finish up until February and even then it could be awhile before he was offered a position as a supervisor in a branch claims office. So why was the regional office telling him about a opening in Minnesota? It's only early November and he has 4 more months to go. All I know is that it happened too quickly. One day he's told about the opening, 3 days later he's in Minnesota applying for a position he's technically not yet trained for and the next day, he's hired! And then of course, they want him to start in 6 weeks.God, the Potter, often uses the unexpected to mold and shape us, doesn't He? In this case I felt squeezed and pulled and shaped a little too much. A little tug here, a little tug there is okay, but please, this was just too rough of treatment. I didn't think this clay could stand up to that much heat.
So how did I respond? Of course I said "thank you" and endured it with all humility and submission....yeah right! I went to Minnesota kicking and screaming. I think I even outdid my 4 year old's best tantrum and then some. I'm just not the type who takes such a drastic change gracefully or willingly. It's fine if I initiate the change, but if it's forced on me, I rebel and kick up a storm like a filly who's never known the saddle.
Did God leave me in this sorry state? He did for awhile. He let me have my tantrum, but at one point He said, "Enough is enough!" He's faithful that way. He's the ever-loving disciplinarian who cares enough to not let me stay in a damaging rut for too long. If God isn't afraid to ship off His chosen nation Israel to Assyria and Judah to Babylonia for their disobedience, He's not going to be shy about letting me have it either. And I'm grateful He wasn't.
I'm thankful that He loves me so much that He won't let me stay in a bratty, tantrum-laced state. Was His discipline pleasant? Of course not! But what kind of father would He be if He spared the rod? He shows Himself faithful as a Father precisely because He did discipline me. As Hebrews 12:9-11 says, "...we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it."
What were the lessons I learned? I learned God will always be a potter and I will always be His clay. That's a good thing! I also learned a little more about what it is for Him to be my Father and that like a Timex watch, I can take a licking and keep on ticking. In fact, I think I tick better now.
© 1999 Patricia K. Holder