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In the Potter's Hand

This past Sunday I told a story about my boy having bad dreams. I said that I would talk more about how that was resolved so I wanted to take this time to write an encouragement to all of you in the church. If you remember, Cora came to tell us that her brother was crying and would we please do something about it because, she said,

"It's keeping me awake." 

We decided to bypass the lack of compassion in this very tired sister and so Mom went down to comfort the boy. As Beth went into his room, Toby was softly crying but she could see that he was shaking and covered in sweat. She brought him out of his room and held him close but he wasn't settling down. Beth tried to talk to him about the dream but he could only say that it was bad and he didn't like thinking about it. He was clenched up in her lap and he was still whimpering in a way that told Beth just how scared he was. Her response was to get him to talk. 

Beth: "Toby, tell me something that is true." 
He though for a bit but he didn't say anything.  
Beth: "Toby, does Daddy love you?" 
He quickly replied.
Toby: "Yes."
Beth: "Does Mommy love you?"
Toby: "Yes."
Beth: "Toby, are you safe?"
Toby: "Yes."

At that moment, Beth told me later, she felt his whole body soften and Toby stopped crying. Being in the potter's hand is much more than knowing that He has a plan. There are times when our senses and thoughts make us tighten up and the only thing we can see is the chaos of our immediate circumstances. In the same way, past experiences can shape us into a jagged pot that can't even function because because of the distortion caused by pain, confusion, anxiety, or anger. There are times when God will break us so He can reshape us, there are other times when He knows the best thing to do is to soften us. At those times, listen to the voice inside that says,

"My child, tell me something that is true."
If you can't think of an eternal truth then allow Him to ask.
"Does your Father love you?"
"Yes."

"God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)

Allow yourself to be placed in the safety of the potter's hand. 


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