No Handles

“Woe to him who strives with him who formed him, a pot among earthen pots! Does the clay say to him who forms it, ‘What are you making?’ or ‘Your work has no handles’? Woe to him who says to a father, ‘What are you begetting?’  or to a woman, ‘With what are you in labor?’” (Isaiah 45:9-10)

Why have You made me like this? 

I wanted to be a pot with handles, more useful, more beautiful, more symmetry - more. 

I’m missing what I think I need to be fit for the task set ahead of me. 

I need more strength, more courage, more health - more. 

I wanted to be a bigger pot, stronger, a more useful and honorable vessel - more. 

So why have You made me like this? What are You making?

I have heard Your rebuke: woe to the one who strives against his Maker, who questions the Potter, who scorns the Artist 

- who always wants more. 

Who will command the perfect Father concerning His precious children? 

He designed them and exacted the artistry with His own hands. How can anyone question His design? 

When the resources don’t appear to match the calling, 

I am dreaming too small. 

I don’t set my aim lower - I lift my eyes higher. 

I don’t question the path - I call on my Savior. 

He gives me all I need to accomplish His set-before-time-itself purpose for me - handles or no. 

His work has no handles? 

Perfect! Excellent! 

Let Him place His hands firmly around this whole vessel that I may feel His grasp all the tighter and be that much closer to my Master. 

Indeed, His work has no handles. So be it.

On this vessel, that is the most effective design. 

Do you feel as though the calling you have received from God asks more of you than you have to give? 

This may be how you know you are truly hearing from Him. 

For why would an all-powerful God ask you to do something for which you already felt readily equipped? 

Where would the miracle be in that? 

Instead, God calls you to the mission that only He can work.

And He will do it through you. 

If you feel inadequate, you are actually tapping into reality. 

You are insufficient - Christ is all sufficient. 

You are weak - Jesus is strong. 

You are mortal - the Lord is risen indeed. 

You are a clay vessel: poor, sick, weary, broken, 

- And He has chosen you.

Do not think that God would call you to something that you feel you can manage. 

The questions will arise, but arise with them, and face them with the confession: 

“I’m not strong enough. 

I’m not learned enough. 

I’m not courageous enough. 

I’m not healthy enough. 

But my God, Jesus, is more than enough!”

His work has no handles - those assets you wish you had before you follow Jesus into the thick of His mission. 

But that’s the genius of God’s design: 

He wants to hold you in the palm of His hand.

And so the mission is not off - it is only impossible. 

And our Potter specializes in working the impossible!