This post was recently summited for one of my assignments but I wanted to share my reflections on here as well. Here is a link to the video that I watched for this assignment.
As I watched this video, I was brought back to my ceramics class in high school and I remembered how frustrating it can be while forming a clay pot. Sometimes it takes just the slightest move to knock it out of shape and you have to take the clay and start again. As I shifted my thinking to God as the potter and myself as the clay I was amazed at how strong and patient God is with us. We often get knocked out of place when we make poor decisions or as a result of the broken world we live in.
A recent example of a time in my life when I was knocked off and had to truth the Potter's hands and heart has been the season of life I'm still walking in. I've finished my undergrad degree and moved off-campus and the adjustment hasn't been the smoothest emotionally speaking. Don't get me wrong, I'm in a great place right now with a place to live, a great job, and a great support system. However, adjusting to my living situation and trying to wrap my head around what this next stage of life will look like is rough and I'm definitely learning to trust the Potter's hand in guiding my life and his heart during the moments where I begin to question everything.
During this time, I'm leaning on God's character of strength and patience as He helps me through the tough movements of adjustment and gives me strength in moments of doubt and worry. As I try to surrender my life I also recognize how patient God is with us as we get knocked off the wheel and he has to help reshape us to his vision for our lives again.
Soul care can be linked to this image of a Potter and clay because, in order for the clay to be formed and shaped into a beautiful creation, it must be tended to. The potter can't let the clay dry out and must keep his hands steady on the clay as it spins around on the wheel and he shapes it just right. The potter uses different tools to manipulate the clay in different ways to create unique patterns and elements. We can use soul care techniques to take care of ourselves and keep our souls focused on God and in a place where he can use our lives well. We also can use God's word and prayer as ways to be shaped by Him. Soul care can be performed by God and by us, however, we are ultimately shaped by our Potter into perfect, unique forms, no matter how much we have been knocked around and manipulated along the way.
e.k.
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