This past Sunday, we explored the importance of actively waiting for the Lord during trials. As we seek the Lord and experience His presence, we play a crucial role in the process of shaping and molding. Our waiting is not passive; instead, it is a time of discovery, revealing that the Lord’s presence is far better than anything else. During this waiting period, the Lord shapes and molds us to become the people He is calling us to be. This is an active involvement on our part, not just a passive experience.
Several places in Scripture describe the relationship between God and His people using the metaphor of a potter and clay. Jeremiah and Isaiah both use this imagery to depict God's work with Israel. In Jeremiah, we read, “The word came to Jeremiah: ‘Can I not do with you, Israel, as this potter does?’ declares the Lord. ‘Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, Israel’” (Jeremiah 18:5-6). Isaiah also expresses, “O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand” (Isaiah 64:8).
It is encouraging to know that, regardless of the stage you are at in life, God is shaping your unique circumstances to help you become the person He has called you to be. The Heidelberg Catechism states, “God watches over me in such a way that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven; indeed, all things must work together for my salvation.” John Flavel reminds us, "It is the duty of the saints to reflect on the performances of providence throughout all stages of their lives." Recognizing God's hand in the narrative of your life is a redemptive exercise, allowing you to release any bitterness, guilt, or frustration. In all the choices you have made, God has been at work, shaping and molding you.
The Apostle Paul writes, “We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). He shapes each of us like a true and perfect artist, crafting a masterpiece. The term "workmanship" in Greek is ‘Poema,’ which is also the word used for a poem or poetic work. It is a beautiful thought that God is making each of us a work of art; we are His masterpiece—individually and collectively. Our lives are shaped as we struggle and wait for His presence and power. In 2 Corinthians 4:7-10, we read, “We have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.” Reflect on the twists and turns in your life that God has led you on, discern his providential care and praise him today.
