"Then I went down to the potter's house, and there he was, working at his wheel. And when the vessel he made of clay was marred in his hand, he made it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make" (Jer., ch. 18, verses 3-4*).
My neighbor has a beautiful tree with a well-groomed green crown. Its beauty is no surprise, as my neighbor is entirely dedicated to shaping it. I've watched her meticulously trim each crooked leaf or branch to shape it in the best possible way. After a heavy storm, she carefully prunes the broken and damaged branches. As a witness to this long process, I realize that it bears an incredibly important spiritual message: God molds our unfinished lives.
Just as my neighbor shapes her tree, the Lord can use even destructive storms to do good work in me. I've gone through deep, devastating grief that shattered me until the only thing I could hold onto was the simple belief that Jesus loves me—this I know for sure. In such crushing moments, I often wonder, "How can all these hardships work for my good?"
I'm learning to trust that the Lord, with care and dedication, is building me into a better version of myself. The neighbor's tree is a beautiful reminder that He is shaping me with great attention.
Link to the original article: https://www.upperroom.org/devotionals/en-2023-02-05
*Bible quotes are from the Bible, new translation from the original languages © Bulgarian Bible Society 2013