An Article By: Rebekah

Have you ever used clay before? 

Perhaps you made a bowl, formed an animal, sculpted a pot, or just played around with it. But did you ever realize that clay teaches us a very important lesson? Did you ever stop to think about what it is about clay that allows you to shape it, form it, and mold it into something new?

The word often used to describe this quality of clay is ‘pliability’. Pliability is what makes clay clay. Think about it. If this quality was lost, clay would simply be a hard, colorful lump sitting uselessly on your tabletop. 

This is exactly how God works in our lives.

You see, God created each and every one of us to do great things. Every day He’s working on us, shaping us and molding us into the person He’s called us to be. But there’s a catch: It only works if we let Him.

God won’t force us to change. He gave us a free will and the ability to exercise our own control to a certain extent. God wants us to be the best that we can be. He wants us to make a difference in the world around us and bring glory to Him. But He won’t make us do anything we don’t choose to do.

God is right next to us, ready to lead us, to guide us, to help us grow into who He created us to be. He’s right here, holding out His hand, ready to help you. Ready to change you from the inside out. But the question remains: Are you willing to let Him? Once you make that choice, He’ll swoop in and immediately begin cleaning you up, shaping and molding you into who you’re meant to be.

Just as it takes time for a person to shape a clay pot or mold a figurine, it will take time for God to shape you and mold you as a person. You may get discouraged, feeling as if you’re exactly the same and haven’t changed a bit. But here’s a piece of encouragement for you: You are growing. Every day you’re becoming more and more like Jesus.

Here’s a challenge for you. Take a look back at your life, whether three years, one year, or even six months ago, and compare where you were then to where you are now. You’ll be amazed to see how much you’ve grown. Just imagine how much growth will occur five, ten, or even twenty years down the line

I know, I know. I can almost hear your protests. And I get it. I know just how it feels to look back and see how much you’ve grown, but then look at the present and realize all the areas in your life that need work. It can be overwhelming, like there’s too much pressure, and you feel like you’re going to break under the weight of it.

But that just brings us to a very important point. You’re never going to be perfect on this side of heaven. No one is. Yet that doesn’t change the fact that we are commanded to strive to be like Jesus, to imitate Him. Yes, we’ll never be perfect on this earth. The only perfect person who ever existed was Jesus. But we are called to be like Him. To live our lives in a way that leads others to Him. To follow Him wholeheartedly and to allow Him to shape us into who He’s called us to be.

So lift your head, child of God. Choose to be like pliable clay and not the hard dried lump on the table. Choose to let God work in your life and in your heart. Don’t lose hope. You may never be perfect until you reach heaven, but God is working on you.

God is working on you, and He is molding you into the person He created you to be and making you into a masterpiece.

Meet the Writer

Rebekah has always enjoyed reading and, now, she has a passion for writing. When she isn’t writing, she can be found reading, spending time with her family, and playing music. As a writer, she spends hours exploring her own fantasy worlds, befriending her characters, and most importantly, aims to glorify God and encourage others with her work.