I’ve always admired how potters take a simple lump of clay and shape it into something beautiful. Watching them work, it seems effortless—but the truth is, it’s anything but easy.
For my birthday this year, I suggested to my husband that we spend a day at a pottery class. He was surprised—and a little apprehensive—but we went for it. It was brilliant! Hard work, yes, but deeply rewarding. We gave it our all. We walked away with pieces that, while imperfect, are precious to us. These pieces are cherished because of the love, time, and care we poured into them.
As I shaped that clay, Isaiah 64:8 came alive for me:
“O Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You are our Potter; we are all the work of Your hand.”
I realized how much I had underestimated the depth of this verse. Pottery is a process that demands patience, attention to detail, persistence, and love. The potter envisions what the clay will become, even when it looks like nothing yet. Every press, every turn of the wheel, every gentle correction is intentional.
Clay begins in the earth—in darkness and lifeless. But when it’s brought into the light, transformation begins. In the same way, we can choose to focus on the light. Even if it’s just a tiny speck, we can watch how God makes our situations brighter.
It’s not easy going through difficult times, and it’s even harder if we choose not to focus on that light. Holding on to darkness is like refusing to give Him the lump of clay. But when we surrender, He doesn’t leave us under pressure—He holds us in His hands through the process. He loves us too much to leave us as we are. He gives us a new identity and a new purpose, and His light shines through us to those around us.
I underestimated the joy I felt when my clay piece was finished. That joy reminded me of Hebrews 12:2:
“…For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross…”. We are His joy—the reason He endured. I delighted in my finished piece. How much more does God delight in us as the work of His hands?
If life feels like pressure and stretching right now, focus on that speck of light. Surrender to the work of the Potter. His hands are steady and secure. Jesus says that no one shall snatch us out of His hand (John 10:28). His heart is full of love and joy for you. And His vision for you is more beautiful than you can imagine. Trust the process. Stay on the wheel. You are being shaped for His glory.
Love Angelina x
Inspiring Radiance 