“You see, we’re all living out a story, but then there’s the story we tell ourselves. We just need to make sure what we’re telling ourselves is the right story. And the right story is yes, God will give us more than we can handle. But He always has eventual good in mind.”- Lysa TerKeurst
“Woe to those who quarrel with their Maker, those who are nothing but potsherds on the ground. Does the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you making?’ Does your work say, ‘The potter has no hands?’ “- Isaiah 45:9
In Chapter 7 (“When God Gives You More Than You Can Handle”) of It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way, Lysa TerKeurst stresses that God doesn’t expect us to handle our adversities and trials. Instead, He wants us to hand our situation over to Him. Also, God doesn’t want us to rally more of our own strength. Rather, we need to rely solely on His strength.
However, before we’re able to move forward in a healthy way, we first need to acknowledge the truth about our own insufficiency. For example, my ministry position or job loss represents more than I can handle . . . on my own. In other words, you must face your realities and walk through them. And as you change your thinking, trust God in the middle of your situation.
Finally, Ms. TerKeurst relates, potters add a type of dust called ‘grog’ to new clay when forming an object. To get this grog, you must shatter the broken pieces of pottery to dust just right.
Pieces shattered too finely add no structure to the new clay. Also, pieces not shattered enough make the potter’s hands bleed – they’re too coarse. Yet, when shattered just right, grog dust added to new clay enables the potter to form the clay into a larger and stronger vessel. In addition, it’s able to go through much hotter fires as well.
Today’s question: What kind of story do you tell yourself? Please share.
Coming Monday: the new Short Meditation, “Cab driver suggestion box”
Tomorrow’s blog: “Stuck in our hurt vs. renewed in our hearts”
