CLAY IN THE POTTER’S HAND

Have you ever done something that you regret, and then find yourself repeating the same pattern, again and again and again as though you have no control? Even recognizing, that this behavior is something that needs to change, and that God wants you to change, yet you find yourself stuck in this pattern of “repeat”. I have, and I’ve found that after I realized, “oops, I’ve done it again!” I felt filled with remorse and regret, beating myself up about it. This response always made me feel worse and was a sure fire way to stay stuck in the same pattern. There is comfort in knowing that the saints experienced the same, just look at the words of St. Paul in Romans 7:15 what I do, I do not understand. For I do not do what I want, but I do what I hate.

In my frustration, I finally had a breakthrough after reading this quote, “When you recognize that you are playing out an unhealthy pattern in your life, love yourself for it. When you love yourself exactly as you are, you and the pattern are free to shift into something new.” This quote surfaced for me, a light bulb moment of realization and I decided to put this theory into practice. I began to reflect to myself after I’ve repeated a negative pattern of behavior, and shift my thought process to loving myself at that moment, instead of beating myself up over it. I began to notice that over time the repeat pattern became less, and less, until it gradually diminished. Now, this doesn’t mean that a new pattern will not introduce itself at some point, but you will gain control over your behavior.

In this life we are always a work in progress. Like clay in the potter’s hand, we are constantly being molded and shaped into God’s design. The good news is, God always forgives us our short comings and “we may not be where we want to be, but thank God we aren’t were we used to be.”

“O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?” says the Lord.
“Look, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel!”

Jeremiah 18:6