Letting God

This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord. “Go down at once to the potter’s house; there I will reveal my word to you.” So I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, working away at the wheel. But the jar that he was making from the clay became flawed in the potter’s hand, so he made it into another jar, as it seemed right for him to do.
The word of the Lord came to me: “House of Israel can I not treat you as this potter treats his clay?” - this is the Lord’s declaration: “Just like clay in the potter’s hand, so you are in my hand, house of Israel. At one moment I might announce concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will uproot, tear down, and destroy it. However, if that nation about which I have made the announcement turns from its evil, I will relent concerning the disaster I had planned to do to it. At another time I might announce concerning a nation or kingdom that I will build and plant it. However, if it does what is evil in my sight by not listening to me, I will relent concerning the good I had said I would do to it. So now, say to the men of Judah and to the residents of Jerusalem, “This is what the Lord says: Look, I am about to bring harm to you and make plans against you. Turn now, each from your evil way, and correct your ways and your deeds.’ But they will say, ‘It’s hopeless. We will continue to follow our plans and each of us will continue to act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart’.’ “ Jeremiah 18:1-12 (CSB)

This scripture is very intense. It was hard not to think “That’s very cruel. Why are you going to extremes Lord? Oh no, I’m a sinner. There are things I struggle with and need to turn from. Am I on the verge of there being plans of disaster for me?”

“I am going to bring such a disaster on this place that everyone who hears about it will shudder because they have abandoned me and made this a foreign place. They have burned incense in it to other gods that they, their ancestors, and the kings of Judah have never known. They have filled this place with the blood of the innocent. They have built high places to Baal on which to burn their children in the fire as burnt offerings to Baal, something I have never commanded or mentioned, I never entertained the thought.” Jeremiah 19:4-5 (CSB)

That is the evil way God was talking about.

God is not waiting to reject me for every mistake I make. Quite the opposite, He died to save me from my mistakes so that He could be with me when I make them, helping me back up.

If God’s not waiting to condemn me for every shortcoming, then why am I doing it to myself? If God can forgive me for all my shortcomings, then I need to extend grace to myself.

During this Sunday’s sermon sin, mistakes, etc, were depicted as a cloud hanging over us. When we have accepted Jesus as our Savior, we accept His payment for the removal of that cloud.

This got me thinking about how I still try to hold onto this cloud at times. It’s like I have a fishing rod that I’ve thrown into the cloud. I keep trying to reel the cloud back even though it doesn’t belong anymore. Believing I’ll find comfort in its familiarity and/or in having control.

Then I reach a moment where I realize where I’ve gotten to and I don’t want to stay. I don’t want the anguish, fear, or sin. I’m hooked though. I cannot reach up to the cloud to unhook it, I don’t want to let go of my fishing rod because that would mean letting go of my control. I’m stuck in a self-inflicted power struggle.

When I can let go of myself and my own judgment, turning to God’s truth of forgiveness and grace instead. I find that not only has the cloud been unhooked, but the sun is all around. I can just rest in its rays. The fishing pole is no longer there, instead it’s Jesus’ hand holding mine. He is in control and it’s okay. How much more beautiful my journey will be with Him by my side.

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