Begin with two minutes of stillness and silence before God.

An unopened paint can never create a masterpiece. A canvas left untouched never becomes a work of art. A lump of clay unformed never becomes a beautiful vase.

Chapter 9 is all about salvation based on faith and how God works to bring people to Him by faith, not works. He may use difficult situations or unlikely people to make His power and glory known, as He did with Pharaoh in freeing the Israelites. There are multiple mentions of God’s judgment in this chapter, but the ultimate message is that God offers salvation to everyone who will come to Him in faith. While we may not understand the process, we can trust that He works ALL things for the good of those who love him (Romans 8:28).

With that being said, let’s look at verses 20-21. Often in those difficult situations that we may not understand, we begin to question God - His purpose, His plan, His goodness, maybe even His existence. As finite beings with limited knowledge, we aren’t always able to understand why God allows difficult circumstances or how He will use them for good, for His glory.

I was driving home recently from a funeral thinking about how unfair it was for this life to be taken so soon, leaving so many devastated. Why would God take someone who was so good and so loved? That led me to thoughts of difficult situations in my own life that have left me questioning God and my faith. As I was lost in these thoughts, it was as if the Lord answered those questions through the song “Canvas and Clay” as it played on my radio. I’ve loved this song since the first time I heard it, and the message always speaks to me, but that day it shouted a little louder than usual as I wrestled with questions of difficulty and unfairness.

“Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?” (Verse 21)

I love to paint and have created many pieces for others. I have a space covered in paint cans, brushes, wood, canvases, etc. One of my favorite things about painting is how each of these raw materials comes together to create something beautiful, and how each brush stroke brings to life the final product. As I drove that day and contended with my thoughts, they began to make more sense through the lens of the painting process. And it led me to the conclusion of the three sentences I started this devotion with.

As the creator of these pieces, I can look at the scattered materials and know the end product created by the process. And the same is true for our relationship with God. When we’re born, as our Creator, He knows the beautiful end product - Heaven for those who choose Him - as well as the necessary, sometimes ugly process to get there. As His children, we can trust that every moment of pain, joy, heartache, and laughter is a brushstroke on the canvas of our lives to create something beautiful. Even when we don’t understand the process, we know that He is the Artist and the Potter; the Creator. We just have to trust Him to create.

I paint with care so that others may come to me for orders. God paints with care so that others may come to Him for eternal life. The circumstances of our lives as He molds and makes us are His artwork on display to the world.

Take two minutes to reflect in silence.

Reflection:

• Use the S.O.A.P. Method to study God’s Word.
  
• SCRIPTURE: What stands out to you in today’s passage?
  
• OBSERVATION: What is this text saying? What is the context? How does it fit with the verses before and after it? Are there any commands, instructions, or promises? 
  
• APPLICATION: How can you apply this verse to your life? What does this mean today? What is God saying to you? 
  
• PRAYER: Respond to the passage in prayer. Ask God to help you apply this truth to your life and spend some time listening to what He may be telling you.