This Day in History: 0000-05-09

May 9 – Isaiah 45:9-12 

*Potsherd = a broken piece of pottery 

“Woe to those who quarrel with their Maker, 
those who are nothing but potsherds among the potsherds on the ground.
Does the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you making?’
Does your work say, ‘The potter has no hands?’
Woe to the one who says to a father, ‘What have you begotten?’
Or to a mother, ‘What have you brought to birth?’
This is what the Lord says – the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker:
Concerning things to come, do you question Me about My children,
or give Me orders about the work of My hands?
It is I who made the earth and created mankind on it.
My own hands stretched out the heavens;
I marshaled their starry hosts.” 

Have you ever quarreled with, or questioned your Maker? I have. Unfortunately, I have dared to shake my fist at the Potter from my brokenness, not recognizing how absurd it was. I have told Him that His plans were not right. I’ve crossed my arms and declared that He was not good. I’ve believed the enemy and forgotten the truth of Scripture – choosing to believe what my own eyes could see rather than what my Creator told me was true. I’ve attributed the works of the enemy to my Lord – perhaps my most dangerous folly. So if you’ve done any of these things, my friend, you are not alone. I’ve come back from that pathetic place to live a life of victory and you can too! 

The first step is simple. We absolutely must recognize ourselves for what we really are on our own: A broken piece of pottery – lying useless among all the other broken pieces of pottery on the ground. Hopeless and helpless! 

The next step is to recognize who God is: The Holy One of Israel. The Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. The Infinite One who knows everything that has been, everything that is, and everything that is yet to come. It was by His hand that we were made, and He has offered to make us whole and give us purpose. Why do we continue to lay broken on the ground, shaking our fists at Him? What utter foolishness! 

Let’s choose today to stop it! Let’s choose to silence the lies of the enemy and bow in humility before the throne of our gracious God. Let’s confess who we are, and that we need Him. Desperately. Let’s stop trying to control what He’s doing and allow ourselves to be formed into the beautiful and perfect creation He intended from the beginning! Let’s stop thinking we know better, and just submit to being His masterpiece!