By Pastor Anthony L. Scott
“So, I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, working away at the wheel. But the jar that he was making from the clay became flawed in the potter’s hand, so he made it into another jar, as it seemed right for him to do.”
– Jeremiah 18:3-4, HCSB
There is no subject or principle in God’s Word that is more neglected or misunderstood as the idea of brokenness. But as we search the Scriptures, we see men and women of God who while used greatly, at the same time they were greatly broken. God often allows setbacks, suffering and times when we are crushed and broken to reveal our desperate need for Him. Anyone who wants to be used mightily, will go through some tough times.
In our seasons of brokenness, God is indeed revealing that He is the grand weaver of our lives. He is demonstrating on a very personal level how He intervenes in the lives of each one of us. God is not trying to make it more difficult for you to believe in Him nor is He attempting to complicate your ability to feel His presence or see His plan. In fact, the greatest benefits of being broken are an increased belief and trust in God along with an enhanced ability to feel His presence and see His plan.
Usually, when something is broken, its value declines or disappears altogether. Broken dishes, broken bottles, broken mirrors are generally thrown away. Even a crack in furniture or a rip in a piece of cloth greatly reduces its resale value. But it isn’t that way in the spiritual realm. God places a premium on broken things, especially broken people.
Little has changed in the art of pottery through the centuries. It was and still is an art form controlled by the skillful hands of the potter. Though advancements in technology may have improved technique and execution, it is still the artisan who makes a brilliant masterpiece out of a lump of clay. A craftsman sees value in what others may have deemed as having no value then expertly shapes and molds lifeless clay into a work of art.
The good news is that the potter doesn’t throw anything broken away. He doesn’t take it to the flea market and put it on the damaged goods table. It’s not marked down for clearance. There is still value in the vessel.
If you are struggling with self-worth and value because life has left you broken, call out to God, and there you will find Him, sitting, working, molding, and making you into His work of art. He will never leave or abandon you. He is the master craftsman who takes broken clay and works it into a new useable vessel. If we see only the thorns, we will miss the roses. If we get depressed by the frequency of rain, we will take for granted the warmth of the sun. It is our willingness to be broken and remade that allows us to fully experience all that God has for us.
