The work of a potter moulding the clay at his wheel is well understood as a Biblical analogy of the relationship between God and us, His people, because the basics of the potter's craft have changed very little over the centuries.

The potter lifts the finger bowl he has separated off the wheel and places it on a shelf across the room. It will have to stay there, while it dries out completely. If he fired it in his kiln right away, the extra water in the clay would turn into steam and explode the piece of pottery.

Jeremiah 18:6 – "Like clay in the hand of the potter, so you are in my hand," declares the Lord.

Sometimes it is necessary for God to put us on the shelf for a while. Certain processes just take time. For example, sometimes we pray, "Lord, give me patience, and give it to me now," and we don't even realize how ridiculous that is. If all the pieces of the orchestra just played their parts straight through without stopping, it would be a cacophony, not a symphony. In the same way, sometimes there are long periods of waiting in our lives, while the Lord is arranging the perfect circumstances for some other part of His perfect will to take place.

Prayer: Lord, help me to rest in Your perfect will, knowing that Your timing is an integral part of that plan. Amen.

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About the author:

Robin Ross <rross@telus.net>
Mission, British Columbia, Canada
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