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Jeremiah 18:1-4 – The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words. Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. (KJV)

Shortly after I came to know the Lord as my personal Saviour, I was going through an extremely difficult period in my life. The pot that was my life had been formed and fired, but it had imperfections that had to be corrected. It was then that I wrote "My Trip Back To The Potter's House".

Dear Diary,

The Lord has spoken to me and told me to "arise and go down to the Potter's house." Notice that He said "down". Mountaintops are up, victories are up, but the road to the Potter's house is always down.

I really don't want to go, and I don't even know if I can. Remember, Diary, the first time that I had some surgery done on me, back at the Potter's house, I went without hesitating. Now, I'm already dying inside, for I know what is in store for me, down at the Potter's house. At that place, construction goes on.

The Potter has cut me before, but now it would truly begin to hurt, because the deeper he cuts and grinds, the more it hurts. It's like a splinter, Diary: if it's only in the top layer of skin, then there is no problem, but the deeper it is, the more pain is inflicted to have it removed.

Hard callous scales are ground off and chipped away. Spirits are crushed, and hearts are broken. No, I can't bear any more. Already, I feel in my heart that I will refuse to go.

The invitation is for me to "arise and go". It's my choice. I don't have to worry; God won't physically carry me down there. He won't force me to go, kicking and screaming. The choice is mine.

Now, what are my alternatives? I can turn back, run, just forget it all, and admit that I wasn't cut out for this type of work. Or I can stay right where I'm at. After all, I'm not totally useless to the Lord.

Luke 9:62 keeps going through my mind, where Jesus says, "No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." (KJV) I know that if I just stay the same, I will become stagnant, like water that is drawn and left uncared for. If I choose to remain the same, it will be the same thing as saying, "Forget it all and turn back", for in time, that is exactly what will happen.

Dear Diary,

I am at the Potter's house now. The journey down here was almost as difficult as having the Potter actually do the grinding. But as the cutting goes on and the Potter shapes me as His vessel, He holds me even more tightly inside, and He says, "Oh my, how I love you!"

The Potter isn't finished with me yet, for this is extremely intricate work, and my Father knows only perfection. Praise God! He is a good God, a faithful God, a God that we can trust. We need not fear His plans for us.

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for the opportunities, however difficult they may be, to be conformed to Your image. May it be our desire to be pliable in Your hands. We love You, Lord. In Your name, we pray. Amen.

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About the author:

Cheryl Mariano (Cheremiah) <cherylmariano@gmail.com>
Casa Grande, Arizona, USA

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1 Comment

  • PresbyCan Feedback says:

    Thanks for the encouragement, Cheryl.


    Well done. I have a good friend in Mesa!


    Excellent piece, Cheryl. Write some more!


    Thanks for sharing this devotional with us. Blessings.


    Thank you for sharing this thought provoking devotional with us. Blessings.


    Lovely, and very meaningful, thank you.
    (Scotland)


    A beautiful testimony, Cheryl. Thank you for sharing your heart and your trust in the Potter.


    Thank you for this devotional! It really speaks to my heart and gives me a new perspective on Jeremiah.


    Hi Cheryl,
    I would love to have a writing partner who lives nearby.


    This devotional is really different.
    I find the ones coming out of this USA quite different. I can usually tell before I even look.


    Cheryl – I have not seen any of your devotionals before, but I hope this will not be the last. Thank you for sharing the pain and ultimately the growth that the Holy Spirit brought you through trials. God Bless you.


    Yes, He loves us too much to leave us where we’re at, doesn’t He?
    I can so identify with what you wrote here and just wanted to thank you for sharing this truth. I found it very encouraging.


    Thank you, Cheryl, for sharing something of your life with us.
    The Potter is not finished with any of us yet. He chooses to continue making the clay more beautiful.
    May you rest in peace in the loving hands of the loving Potter, who gave his life for us, yet lives forever.
    Our Lord says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid (John 14:27).
    Keep writing.


    Welcome to the “Writers Guild” (my sentiment only) and thank you for your frank and honest account of your pilgrimage to your “Potter’s House”. We all have one and must obey God’s urges to go there. With me it was an something which had to be removed, and with my wife it is cancer.
    But, no matter how gloomy the path ahead seems to be, the promise that Jesus made at the end of Matthew’s Gospel still holds, thanks be to God!
    Blessings to you this day and always.
    (Ontario)


    Dear Cheryl:
    I just wanted to ‘Thank You’ for your contribution to the PresbyCan Daily Devotional. I can honestly relate to what you wrote. Going DOWN to the Potter’s Wheel.
    I know that all Christians face challenges in their lives, but when I go through them I think I am the only person in this whole wide world feeling the way I do.
    I know I look back, instead of leaving the past behind.
    I struggle with putting my complete trust in God, the big reason being that I see God as a man and most men in my life have {I feel} not supported me and let me down.
    God has been so good to me, I know, and people all around me have seen how He has provided for me. I could not have gone through the above without God walking beside me.
    God is good.
    I pray that God will Bless you and Heal you.
    Thank you again.


    Thanks Cheryl,
    This topic always has special meaning for me.
    Blessings.


    Hi Cheryl
    Good devotional. I love that story of Jeremiah going to the potter to see how something bad can be remolded and restored, Which is my sermon for this Sunday actually, quite a coincidence I would say Thank you for writing.
    Blessings.


    Hello dear Cheryl,
    I got the chance to read another powerful from you the other day and it was about your emotional trip down to the Potter’s House. Your articles are always beautifully chosen and uniquely written, wishing you the best in your writing.
    Happy Independence Day,
    (Saudi Arabia)

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