While in Bermuda, one of the guided tours that was planned for us by our host was a trip to the beach in order to delight in one of the treasures of the island. The tour guide gave us an interesting lesson about sea glasses.
Sea glasses are all crafted naturally by the sea from man made glasses. Their origins are mostly from glass bottles or jars that were discarded and tossed into the sea. Over time, under the custody of the sea and wave actions, these glass pieces go through continuous tumbling and friction. The glasses are dragged through the sand, underwater rocks and sea shells. As a result of this, they are broken up in small pieces, get worn, edges get naturally smoothened and the bodies get polished. The end result, these once broken and discarded bottles, become colorful jewels.
Water currents carry these glasses until they are finally washed up the shore and made available again in different forms and shapes altogether. What was once broken and discarded, is now a colorful jewel that’s a paradise for collectors, crafters and photographers of sea glass. There are some companies that thrive on making expensive jewelry from sea glasses collected from beaches.
In today’s journey, I want us to go down to the potter’s house with Jeremiah. There we will see what happens to vessels that are marred or broken.
“Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something at the wheel. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make.
Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: “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 18:3-6, New King James Version)
In Isaiah 64:8, it states, “But now, O Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You our potter; And all we are the work of Your hand.”
Perhaps the circumstances of life have left you feeling broken. You may be experiencing brokenness as a result of broken promises, broken trust, divorce, sickness, unemployment or death of a loved one. Be encouraged today! God is able to create something new and beautiful in your life. He is in the business of making masterpieces out of what is flawed or broken.
As it appears right now, conditions may be broken and may seem hopeless; but God is able to make your life beautiful again.
You may be familiar with jewelry designers who make masterpieces from fragments of china, pottery, glass and textiles. They create one-of-a-kind wearable mementos from discarded fragments.
All of the china that one designer uses for the jewelry is previously damaged, either from age or use; or both. She chooses to work with old salvaged materials. She looks at the designs and motifs on the china and thinks that they are beautiful and as such, should be preserved; thereby creating beautiful jewelry.
Kintsugi, also known as Kintsukuroi, is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery by mending the areas of breakage with lacquer dusted or mixed with powdered gold, silver or platinum–accentuating the flaws instead of seeking to conceal them.
Our Heavenly Father is in the business of comforting those who mourn; giving beauty for ashes; the oil of joy for mourning; the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified. See Isaiah 61:3.
There is opportunity and potential in the broken and discarded!
You are precious to God. He sees you as His jewel.
“The Lord their God will save them in that day, as the flock of His people. For they shall be like the jewels of a crown; lifted like a banner over His land–For how great is its goodness and how great its beauty! (Zechariah 9:16)
“They shall be Mine,” says the Lord of hosts, “On the day that I make them My jewels–special treasure”. (Malachi 3:17)
My prayer for you today is that you will bring all the broken areas of your life to God. No need to hide or stay away from His presence. Just as we see in our visit to the potter’s house, God is able make something beautiful out of your life again. Trust Him!
May you experience the loving embrace of God as He makes something beautiful out of your life!
Heather R. Edwards
GOD’S ROYAL DAUGHTER
“She is clothed in strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.” Proverbs 31:25