Dr H Reflections

Radiant with joy ∙∙

Radiant with joy ∙∙

They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces will never be ashamed. – Psalms 34:5

Psalms 34:1-8

1 I will praise the LORD at all times. I will constantly speak his praises.

2 I will boast only in the LORD; let all who are helpless take heart.

3 Come, let us tell of the LORD’s greatness; let us exalt his name together.

4 I prayed to the LORD, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears.

5 Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces.

6 In my desperation, I prayed, and the LORD listened; he saved me from all my troubles.

7 For the angel of the LORD is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear him.

8 Taste and see that the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!

Ella Wheeler Wilcox was a notable American author and poet whose literary contributions have left a lasting impact on American literature. Born in 1850, her works often explored themes of personal reflection, human emotion, and the complexities of social interactions. Among her numerous writings, her poem “Solitude” stands out as her most enduring and celebrated piece.

The inspiration for “Solitude” struck Wilcox during an evocative train journey through Wisconsin. While traveling, she noticed a young woman dressed in black seated across the aisle, visibly overcome with sorrow and crying. Moved by the woman’s distress, Wilcox sat next to her and offered comfort. This encounter deeply affected Wilcox, creating a blend of empathy and introspection. By the end of the journey, she found herself sharing in the woman’s sorrow while simultaneously feeling an inner radiance. This profound experience led her to pen the opening lines of “Solitude.”

The poem captures the essence of human emotional experiences and the nature of companionship and isolation. Its famous opening lines, “Laugh, and the world laughs with you; Weep, and you weep alone,” succinctly convey the contrast between shared joy and solitary sorrow. Wilcox’s ability to translate her personal emotional experience into universal themes resonated with many readers, making “Solitude” a timeless piece that continues to speak to the human condition.

Solitude

Laugh, and the world laughs with you;

Weep, and you weep alone.

Life is defined by the choices we make. The direction we take is determined by how we handle our challenges and adversities.

Wilcox also wrote The Set of the Sails.

The Set of the Sails

One ship drives east, and another west

With the self-same winds that blow;

‘Tis the set of the sails

And not the gales

That decides the way to go.

Like the winds of the sea are the ways of fate,

As they voyage along through life;

‘Tis the will of the soul

That decides its goal,

And not the calm or the strife.

REFLECT & PRAY

Being in the presence of the Father brings forth an exuberant joy that cannot be restrained. David bursts out with exclamations of praise.

Father, help me to master the practice of praising and thanking You every day. Dispel the dark shadows of shame and fear that linger within and fill my heart with radiant joy.

INSIGHT

Psalms 34 is more than just a prayer; it is a joyful declaration in response to the Father’s perceptive and astonishing answers to prayer. David has tasted the profound joy of being in the Father’s presence, and the feeling is tangible. His heart is thrilled and overflowing with joy. He is beaming with delight. The term “radiant” also appears in Isaiah 60:5, illustrating a parent’s face lighting up with joy upon seeing their children, who had been given up for lost (Kidner).

Isaiah 60:5 Your eyes will shine, and your heart will thrill with joy.

The Hebrew word translated as “shine” or “radiant” is nahar. Nahar conveys a sense of joyful pleasure. Metaphorically, it depicts “a face glowing with light from a joyful countenance.” In the Old Testament, this radiance is a result of the Father’s light shining on people or people gazing at Him. This same radiance was evident in Moses when he descended from Mount Sinai after receiving the Ten Commandments.

Exodus 34:29 When Moses came down from Mount Sinai carrying the two stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant, he wasn’t aware that his face had become radiant because he had spoken to the LORD.

The Hebrew word translated as “thrill with joy,” “become joyful and glad,”or “tremble and rejoice” is pachad. This word depicts the trembling sensation of being startled, causing the heart to flutter or beat rapidly. Pachad reflects a spectrum of emotions, including extreme happiness, joy, and gladness, as well as trembling and trepidation. It conveys various feelings, including trembling with excitement and rejoicing mixed with a hint of fear. Visualize what happens when startled; your heart flutters and beats rapidly.

Psalms 34:5 Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy.

Pause momentarily and imagine being present with David as he expresses his thoughts aloud. His words are filled with enthusiasm and zeal, reflecting an intimate spiritual connection with the Father. David finds immense pleasure in this experience and has an insatiable desire to immerse himself fully in it. Although his outward expression may appear calm and unremarkable, it is anything but dull. He is overflowing with joy and excitement.

Psalms 34:2 My soul will make its boast in the LORD.

But wait, there’s even more. When restraints are lifted, they are replaced by a sense of joyful abandon. We might find ourselves acting in ways that seem foolish but in a positive sense. As Paul states, “We are fools for Christ’s sake” (1 Corinthians 4:10). In today’s terms, it’s like the exhilaration of cheering wildly for your home team when they score a touchdown. His soul is literally leaping with joy as he revels in the Father’s presence (Terrien).

This joy is infectious, and he simply cannot contain it. It bursts forth from him and must be shared. David beckons us to join him. Each of us is welcome to enter the presence of the Father and experience the joy He provides.

How does David become so buoyant? What is his secret? It all starts with praise and gratitude for who the Father is, what the Father does, and most importantly, what the Father has done for us. He shouts of the Father’s greatness and delights in Him.

In other words, David magnifies and blesses the Father. But how can a mere human bless God?

“The idea behind ‘bless’ is to speak a good word about someone: when God blesses someone, He speaks a good word over that person for their well-being; when a human blesses God, they speak a good word about God’s kindness and generosity” (ESV notes).

Paul reiterates this idea succinctly in one verse: “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

“Even if it’s not your practice, pick a day this week and praise God throughout the day. Praise Him when you wake up, praise Him when you eat, praise Him when you leave the house and when you return” (Stanley).

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Truth and flattery with a hook ∙

Truth and flattery with a hook ∙

Teacher, we know that You are truthful and teach the way of God in truth and defer to no one, for You are not partial to any. – Matthew 22:16

Matthew 22:20-26

20 Watching for their opportunity, the leaders sent spies pretending to be honest men. They tried to get Jesus to say something that could be reported to the Roman governor so he would arrest Jesus.

21 “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you speak and teach what is right and are not influenced by what others think. You teach the way of God truthfully.

22 Now tell us – is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

23 He saw through their trickery and said,

24 “Show me a Roman coin. Whose picture and title are stamped on it?” “Caesar’s,” they replied.

25 “Well then,” he said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.”

26 So they failed to trap him by what he said in front of the people. Instead, they were amazed by his answer, and they became silent.

Entrapment occurs when someone is persuaded to commit a crime they would not have otherwise engaged in. This typically involves government agents or law enforcement officers. In the United States, entrapment is a legal defense against criminal charges, aiming to prove that the crime’s idea originated with officials and that the accused was pressured into committing it.

This strategy aims to discourage law enforcement officers from using dubious practices that may lead to criminal acts.

Religious leaders, often offended and angered by the Lord Jesus Christ, contrived a scheme to ensnare Him. Their bait was flattery. They conspired together and attempted to elicit a response from Him that could be interpreted as undermining Roman law and authority. The Scriptures clearly indicate that flattery is frequently used as a means to entrap others.

Proverbs 29:5 To flatter friends is to lay a trap for their feet.

The entire incident is filled with irony. They lavish praise on Jesus, calling Him a bold and fearless prophet and teacher. They claim that He unfalteringly speaks the Father’s truth without compromise. He refuses to defer to anyone. Additionally, He does not seek human approval or the praise of men but is solely concerned with the commendation of His Father in heaven (John 12:43).

“Jesus immediately saw through their scheme. He knew that their real purpose was not to get an answer to a question, but to try to trap Him” (Wiersbe). He makes a brilliant countermove that leaves his inquirers astonished, dumbfounded, and speechless.

REFLECT & PRAY

“The money belongs to Caesar, and you belong to God. Let the world have its coins, but let God have His creatures” (MacDonald).

Father, thank You for providing the Word of God, a dependable source of true Truth. Help me to stand firm, avoid entrapments, and proclaim Your Truth accurately and impartially.

INSIGHT

In their efforts to trap the Lord Jesus Christ, the religious leaders inadvertently highlighted their understanding of His character and teachings.

Luke 20:21 You speak and teach rightly, and show no partiality, but truly teach the way of God.

This interaction became a teaching opportunity, a discipleship moment. The Lord Jesus Christ seized the moment to impart several crucial spiritual lessons to the onlookers. His response was both succinct and wise.

Understanding some historical context sheds light on His explanation. It offers a deeper comprehension of what the Lord Jesus Christ said. “Each ruler minted his own coins and put his own image on them. The ‘penny’ (denarius) had Caesar’s image on it, so it belonged to Caesar. ‘Give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar,’ was His reply. ‘And give back to God what belongs to God’” (Wiersbe).

What is owed to the Father?

The denarius features Caesar’s image and symbolizes the tribute owed to him. Jesus introduces a more significant command: people should give to God what bears His image and likeness, namely, themselves (ESV notes).

The message is straightforward yet profound. There is a distinct separation between the Father and Caesar. Ultimately, the coins belong to Caesar. Render unto him what is rightfully his. Simultaneously, render unto the Father God what is His. People belong to the Father; those who follow Him are to offer themselves in devotion (Romans 12:1).

But there is more to consider.

The phrase “You tell the truth” could be rendered “You are an honest man,” “You are a man of integrity,” or “You are a truthful man” (UBS).

The phrase “Truly teach the way of God” could be translated as “You tell each person clearly and plainly how he must live according to God’s will,” “You do teach the life that God wishes us to live,” “You teach the truth about God’s will for man,” or “What you teach about God’s laws (or, will) is the truth (or, correct)” (UBS).

The enemies of the Lord Jesus Christ recognized that He spoke true truth. How ironic that they did not believe what they heard.

The Greek clause translated as “You are impartial, or You defer to no one” is ou gar blepeis eis prosopon anthropon. It literally reads, “You do not look to the face of men” (D. A. Carson).

“You do not regard the position of men” translates the Semitic idiom: “You do not look into the face of men.” . . . [the] emphasis is upon the impartiality with which Jesus treats people, regardless of their status (“you are impartial”). [The] GeCL translation connects this clause with the previous one: “influenced by people, no matter how important they are.”

“Some translators will make this a new sentence: ‘You don’t care whether someone is important or not’ or ‘It does not matter to you whether someone is an important person or not’” (UBS).

The phrase “You show no partiality” or “You are not partial to any” is literally “You care for no man” in Greek, and to express the idea more clearly, it can be translated. “You do not allow yourself to be influenced by people,” “You are not swayed by men’s opinion of you,” or “You don’t care what people think” (UBS).

The Lord Jesus Christ stood with unwavering courage, boldly declaring what the Father wishes for people to know and do. His character and integrity are impeccable, and He always speaks the Truth, regardless of others’ opinions or what they think of Him. He can be trusted to proclaim what is right and true concerning the matters of God. In essence, “He was sincere, faithful to the truth, fearless, and no respecter of persons.” (Morris).

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Broken lives and wounded hearts ∙∙

Broken lives and wounded hearts ∙∙

But I am a worm and not a man. I am scorned and despised by all! – Psalms 22:6

Isaiah 48:17-22

17 This is what the LORD says – your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is good for you and leads you along the paths you should follow.

18 Oh, that you had listened to my commands! Then you would have had peace flowing like a gentle river and righteousness rolling over you like waves in the sea.

20 Yet even now, be free from your captivity! Shout it to the ends of the earth! The LORD has redeemed his servants, the people of Israel.

22 There is no peace for the wicked, says the LORD.

There is a major societal trend towards what is been termed a throwaway culture. Items used once or for short are discarded. This model is characterized by four words: take, make, use, and throw. Thrift stores, some independent and others operated by corporations, can be found all over the United States. These stores specialize in reselling items that their owners no longer want or need.

In American culture, it’s common to discard useless, broken, or out-of-style items and reject damaged goods.

Tragically, many people on Earth are seen as damaged goods. They are characterized by wounded hearts, broken spirits, and fractured relationships. When faced with broken marriages or relationships, people often choose to walk away instead of working to repair them.

While society tends to view broken things as worthless and despised, the perspective of the Father is different. He seeks out those who are wounded and broken and is in the business of renewing human souls, with a motto of “Redemption and Transformation Found Here.”

The Father takes pleasure in transforming the tragedy of broken lives and wounded hearts into something far better. He has no rivals in this remarkable endeavor.

The Scriptures use a metaphor to describe these difficult and hopeless situations in which individuals may feel like worms or poor in spirit. When our lives are shattered, and our hearts are deeply wounded, we often grapple with significant self-esteem issues, feeling inadequate, unworthy, and even shameful.

Psalms 22:6 But I am a worm, not a man; people insult me and despise me.

David’s words convey profound feelings of insignificance, vulnerability, and contempt.

REFLECT & PRAY

The LORD is near to those who are brokenhearted; He saves those who are crushed in spirit. – Psalms 34:18

Father, thank You for your comforting presence. You draw near to each child of the King who is hurting and feeling broken. Repair my wounded heart and help me to know and experience the joy of Your salvation more and more, day by day.

INSIGHT

In the kingdom of God, our Heavenly Father uses our broken lives and wounded hearts to draw us closer to Him. He lovingly beckons us, yearning for us to listen and come to Him so that He can make us whole. Sadly, we often become consumed and preoccupied with our own brokenness and feelings of unworthiness. We fail to hear his voice and respond to His gentle call.

The deepest, most profound need of every soul is inner regeneration and transformation. We may try to drown out the pain by keeping ourselves busy, avoiding His call, and ultimately feeling empty and inadequate. This often leads to a cycle of self-blame, despair, emptiness, inadequacy, and darkness, where we fail to recognize that true restoration is within our reach.

God’s healing touch is powerful and transformative. By embracing His call, we can break free from the chains of despair and step into the light of His love and grace. Let us open our hearts to His voice, allowing Him to mend our spirits and lead us to a life filled with hope, joy, and divine purpose.

Matthew 5:3 God blesses those who know what it is to be poor in spirit and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

The Greek word translated as “poor” is ptochos. It comes from the Greek verb ptosso, which means to crouch or cower like a beggar. It refers to those who are poor and helpless, in abject poverty, utter helplessness, or complete destitution (Zodhiates).

The “poor in spirit” are those who recognize their total spiritual destitution and need for God. The kingdom of heaven belongs to them. They readily acknowledge and confess their spiritual bankruptcy (ESV Notes).

Although there may be anguish, sorrow, rejection, mistreatment, weeping, and far more dire conditions in this present world, the children of the King will ultimately be blessed forever because the Father’s kingdom belongs to them. The somewhat distressing conditions are not “good” in and of themselves. However, they make the children of the King aware of their need for the Father. Within each human being, there is a vacuum that the Father alone can fill. The poverty in view is not physical or material. It is the poverty of the spirit. Those who are poor in spirit are humbled before the Father, fully aware of their spiritual impoverishment.

The Father is ready and able to break the cycle of the past and make everything new.

When we reach a breaking point, many earnestly seek the Father more sincerely. When we come to the Father with shattered lives, He alone can take broken and wounded hearts and make them whole.

2 Corinthians 5:17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

True inner transformation begins when we take our eyes off ourselves and stop ruminating on the past. By recognizing our profound need for the Father, we can refocus our lives on Him. Our brokenness marks not an end but a new beginning, a life dedicated to walking with Him.

When we place the Father at the center of our lives, a remarkable healing process unfolds from the inside out. He molds us more and more into the likeness of the Lord Jesus Christ, gradually shaping us into who He intends us to be. As a result, things start to align and come together in ways that are far beyond our imagination. The Father’s nature remains constant, and His mercy is unfailing.

Great is Thy faithfulness

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father, there is no shadow of turning with You;

You change not, Your compassions, they fail not as You have been. You forever will be.

Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness! Morning by morning, new mercies I see;

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided – Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest, sun, moon, and stars in their courses above,

Join with all nature in manifold witness to Thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love.

Pardon for sin and a peace that endures, Your own dear presence to cheer and to guide;

Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

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Gratitude or not? ∙∙

Gratitude or not? ∙∙

Even if we butchered all our flocks and herds, would that satisfy them? Even if we caught all the fish in the sea, would that be enough? – Numbers 11:22

Numbers 11:1-11

1 Soon the people began to complain about their hardship, and the LORD heard everything they said. Then the LORD’s anger blazed against them, and he sent a fire to rage among them, destroying some people in the camp’s outskirts.

2 Then the people screamed to Moses for help, and when he prayed to the LORD, the fire stopped.

4 Then, the foreign rabble traveling with the Israelites began to crave the good things of Egypt, and the people of Israel also began to complain. “Oh, for some meat!” they exclaimed.

5 “We remember the fish we used to eat for free in Egypt. And we had all the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic we wanted.”

6 “But now our appetites are gone. All we ever see is this manna!”

8 The people would go out and gather it from the ground. They made flour by grinding it with hand mills or pounding it in mortars. Then they boiled it in a pot and made it into flat cakes. These cakes tasted like pastries baked with olive oil.

9 The manna came down on the camp with the dew during the night.

10 Moses heard all the families standing in the doorways of their tents whining, and the LORD became extremely angry. Moses was also very aggravated.

11 And Moses said to the LORD, “Why are you treating me, your servant, so harshly? Have mercy on me! What did I do to deserve the burden of all these people?”

How much does it take for us to have enough and be grateful?

When asked, “How much money is enough money?” John D. Rockefeller replied, “Just a little bit more.”

Rockefeller might ultimately be best known for the sheer magnitude of his wealth. In 1902, an audit revealed that Rockefeller was worth approximately $200 million, starkly contrasted against the United States’ total national wealth of $101 billion that year. His net worth during the final decades of his life would undoubtedly position him among the wealthiest individuals in history.

In many respects, Rockefeller reflects the insatiable desires within our own hearts – whether fixated on something specific or driven by a nebulous yearning for “more.” Yet, in reality, “more” is never truly sufficient.

There is a superior path – cultivating gratitude.

“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues but the parent of all the others” (Cicero).

“I am grateful for what I am and have. My thanksgiving is perpetual” (Thoreau).

“Let gratitude be the pillow upon which you kneel to say your nightly prayer” (Maya Angelou).

“O Lord that lends me life, lend me a heart replete with thankfulness!!” (Shakespeare).

“When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around” (Willie Nelson).

“Joy is the simplest form of gratitude.” (Karl Barth).

The Father desires more than our gratitude for what we possess; He wants us to be thankful for everything. King David grasped this lesson early in his life and embodied it. His insights are scattered throughout the Psalms, offering us a window into his practice of unwavering thankfulness.

Psalms 73:25-28

25 Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth.

26 My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.

28 But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign LORD my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.

As we grow older, the vitality of our youth gradually diminishes, replaced by fatigue and waning strength that comes with aging. Mobility becomes limited, and chronic pain and frustration may set in. It’s easy to become disheartened, discontent, and eventually bitter, leading to a demanding and ungrateful attitude. We may find ourselves grumbling and resentful, spiraling downward until the Father opens the eyes of our hearts to recognize what we’ve become.

In the midst of our dissatisfaction and resentment, we often hurt those around us, especially those closest to us. Thus, our forgiveness must extend not only vertically but also horizontally. Once we gain this awareness, we can confess and seek forgiveness. We must ask for forgiveness from those we’ve wronged on our path to despair.

REFLECT & PRAY

Wanting more in and of itself is not inherently wrong. In fact, yearning for more of the Father is truly wonderful.

Father, how I long to have a heart like David’s, filled with immense love and devotion to You. I am aware that nothing on this earth can fulfill me as You alone can.

INSIGHT

Complaining became the national pastime for the Israelites during their time in the wilderness. The more they complained, the more self-absorbed they grew. They were never content and constantly grumbled about the Father’s provision (Exodus 17:1-3). Despite the Father sending manna from heaven (Exodus 16:4), instead of rejoicing and being grateful, they wanted more. They pined for different food (Numbers 11:4). The Israelites constantly desired something more, something better, something else, or even something they used to have (Numbers 11:4-6).

Psalms 16 is a profoundly personal hymn of joy that highlights the Father’s goodness. David finds his delight solely in the Father, acknowledging that all the good in his life comes from Him. David expresses joy, praise, humility, and submission to the divine will.

David relied on the Father for safety, needing His constant care and oversight of all the good things that the Father had provided. For David, the Father was his greatest treasure and highest good.

Sadly, our longing, hungry hearts often lead us on desperate, futile quests for satisfaction. David shows us a better way to live. Instead of craving more things, wealth, power, or recognition, he realized that true contentment was not found “out there.” David discovered the secret and joy of being at home in the Father’s presence.

More than that, David indeed delighted in his closeness to the Father. The source of David’s greatest joy was being with Him.

Psalms 16:11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence, there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Psalms 16:11 stands unmatched in its depiction of beautiful possibilities. It begins with the simplest of words. The path of life is a way of living that leads to life with the Father. It brings us into His presence and into eternity. The joys and pleasures David speaks of are utterly satisfying and endlessly varied, found in who the Father is and what He gives (Kidner).

The Hebrew word translated as “in your presence” is literally in your panim, “faces.” The sense is close proximity, companionship, care, and protection.

How can we ever be satisfied? What is enough? When we learn the art of gratitude, we will be satisfied. The Father is pleased when His children are content and offer Him grateful praise.

Isaiah 30:15 In quietness and trust is your strength.

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When clay talks back ∙∙

When clay talks back ∙∙

What sorrow awaits those who argue with their Creator. Does a clay pot argue with its maker? Does the clay dispute with the one who shapes it, saying, ‘Stop, you’re doing it wrong!’ Does the pot exclaim, ‘How clumsy can you be?’ – Isaiah 45:9

How foolish can you be? He is the Potter, and he is certainly greater than you, the clay! Should the created thing say of the one who made it, “He didn’t make me”? Does a jar ever say, “The potter who made me is stupid?” – Isaiah 29:16

Romans 9:20-21

20 No, don’t say that. Who are you, a mere human being, to argue with God? Should the thing that was created say to the one who created it, “Why have you made me like this?”

21 When a potter makes jars out of clay, doesn’t he have a right to use the same lump of clay to make one jar for decoration and another to throw garbage into?

The following illustration is a slightly altered excerpt from “The Hammer, the File, and the Furnace” by Samuel Rutherford.

In the midst of severe trials and heartaches, Rutherford proclaimed: “Praise God for the hammer, the file, and the furnace!”

Consider this. The hammer is a practical and essential tool, especially when nails need to be driven into place. With each strike, the hammer drives the nail deeper as the hammer’s head pounds and pounds.

However, if the nail had feelings and intellect, it would give us another side of the story. To the nail, the hammer is a brutal, relentless adversary. The hammer is an enemy intent on beating it into submission through relentless pounding. This perspective is understandable but overlooks a crucial point: both the hammer and the nail are controlled by the same craftsman. It is the craftsman who decides which nail to strike and which hammer will do the job.

This decision is the sovereign right of the carpenter. When the nail remembers that it and the hammer are in the hands of the same craftsman, its resentment fades, and it submits to the carpenter without complaint.

Heartaches and disappointments are much like the hammer. They come in various forms: unmet expectations, lingering illness, unexpected loss, unachieved dreams, broken friendships, rebellious children, stubborn habits, or fractured relationships. These heartaches may come suddenly or gradually, but they are inevitable.

Undoubtedly, if nails could feel, they wouldn’t “enjoy” being struck by the hammer. But does it make sense for a nail to resent the hammer’s blows?

The same is true of the children of the King. The Father has the right to decide whose head will be hammered next, how hard, and for how long. For all practical purposes, although we are but nails, we are His nails.

As difficult as it may be to believe at times, the Master knows what He’s doing. He is working out a plan created in and for eternity. The Father knows our breaking point. The hammer blows are designed to reshape us, not ruin us. Our value to Him increases the longer He lingers over us (Rutherford).

REFLECT & PRAY

Common clay is simply part of the dry ground, the dirt, that the Father separated from the waters at the dawn of creation.

Father, it is so very human and natural to wrestle with this. Encourage and help me to remember that I was made from the dust of the earth. Help me not to forget that You are fashioning me into what You desire and that one day, I will finally become what You intended all along.

INSIGHT

Do we forget who is the clay and Who is the Potter? Does a clay pot argue with its maker? Does the clay dispute with the one who shapes it, saying, “Stop, you’re doing it wrong!” (Isaiah 45:9)?

Do we genuinely believe that the Father lacks intelligence or wisdom? Is there any reason to think His planning is flawed, unfair, or insufficient? Does He need more power or ability to accomplish His goals? Absolutely not; such thoughts are absurd!

Finding peace of mind and understanding in this matter can be extremely challenging. However, any child of the King is capable of achieving it, though it often involves significant inner conflict and struggle. Despite our wish for things to be different, the Father is the Potter, and we are merely the clay designed to be shaped into whatever He wants. Thus, the solution is simple yet complicated.

Each child of the King must recognize that the Potter is indeed the Potter. The final decision in the shaping process belongs to Him, not to us.

If we momentarily indulge in wishful thinking and imagine ourselves as the potter, we might think we could take control. Yet, until such a time comes, it is wise to remember that pliable clay bends while hard, brittle clay breaks.

One more thing: clay, by its very essence, is inactive, passive, and lifeless. It doesn’t engage in mud fights with other clay, nor does it get rambunctious or toss itself around. It doesn’t cause rockslides or muddy, clear, sparkling water for amusement or spite. Essentially, clay just lays around. It is utterly torpid.

However, when placed in the hands of a potter, it becomes something else. It is fashioned, molded, and shaped into something new. It acquires a new form, meaning, purpose, and value.

The potter is the one who crafts and determines what kind of vessel the clay will become. Some pots turn out to be very beautiful and ornate, while others, not so much. The New Living Translation is notably straightforward, even stringent, in its interpretation.

Romans 9:21 When a potter makes jars out of clay, doesn’t he have a right to use the same lump of clay to make one jar for decoration and another to throw garbage into?

Children of the King can find peace when they embrace the fact that the Father is shaping them into the vessel He desires. Although the process is challenging and, at times, painful, it ultimately leads us to fulfill our true purpose. We become what we were born to be and do.

With thoughtful reflection, common sense, and wisdom, we can realize that the Father, as the Sovereign Lord, is orchestrating everything according to His grand design. He is the Lord God Almighty, and we are merely dust from the earth. Yet, we are His dust.

Praise the LORD! For the Lord God omnipotent reigns (Revelation 19:6).

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