The Purpose in the Process: The Wedge

Wedging The Clay

The first step in the process of making a vessel

For the clay to become the vessel that the potter envisions, the process must begin by wedging the clay, which is a process that removes the air bubbles from the inside of the clay. The clay particles are pushed together and the air is pressed out as the potter throws the clay onto the wedging table. The potter continues by pressing the clay into the table until the surface is smooth and the shape of the clay is formed into a wedge. This step in the process is very important. If the clay contains air bubbles, it will not form correctly once it is on the wheel. Once of the wheel, the air bubbles grow to impede the formation of the vessel. They could make the vessel walls collapse causing the potter to completely start over. Also, the wedged shape allows the potter to throw the clay down on the center of the wheel. When the shape of the clay is like a wedge the potter can easily begin the throwing process by wrapping their hands around the clay. 

As a new ceramics student, I had eyes for the wheels. I was so excited to go straight to the wheel, not wanting to take the time to wedge. Many times, we have the same desire to go straight to the wheel and become the vessel. However, God sees the importance of each step in our processes of formation. When we see how God’s glory may be shown through each step of the process, we may also shift our perspective and see the value of each step. 

When I think of wedging, I think of the times in our lives when we are in difficult and painful situations that seem to push us beyond our limits. Wedging is that moment when we are in between a “rock and a hard place.” In the book “Culture Care,” Makato Fujimura speaks of the genesis moments in the creative process. Many times these genesis moments are painful situations that open our eyes to our faults and need for God. This process reminds me of 2 Corinthians 4:7-10, 17-18, where Paul says, 

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed-always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen aretemporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

When Paul wrote this letter to the Corinthian church, He was in prison. He was suffering for the cause of Christ, yet he knew that God could get glory from the pain that he experienced. In this same way, I think of the struggles in our lives. I am not implying that God causes pain. We live in a fallen world, and death, destruction, and harm entered as the earth was cursed through the fall of Adam and Eve. Sometimes the pain is caused by our bad decisions as well as the bad decisions of others. However, God, as the Master Potter, has a way of working in us through hard experiences. 

Whether we would like to admit it or not, experiencing difficult situations changes us. The experience makes us more compassionate toward others and the difficulties that they face. Often, parts of ourselves that we do not like come to the surface when we are in a wedging season. We may have not known unbelief or pride were inside of us until the pressure made them suraface. These are the issues of life that would make us fall apart on the wheel of formation if we skipped the wedging. Also, These are the issues that could make us burst when life turns up the heat and times of testing occur. When I think of formation, I think of growth in our callings. If we allow the air bubbles to stay inside of us, we will collapse under the weight of our calling. We have to allow the Master Potter to make us whole, pure, and properly aligned so that we can hold the weight of the glory of God that we were created to reveal.

The pressure that comes from the wedge is not to condemn the clay into perfection. It is an invitation for the clay to be surrendered and obedient. As Paul says, we carry the dying of the Lord Jesus that the life of Christ may be manifested in us. The life of God is manifested as we die to sin and selfishness and allow the Master Potter to work out and remove the issues deep inside of us. This is the beginning of transformation and end of condemnation. God doesn’t require us to be perfect on our own. He want us to be surrendered and obedient so that He can make us holy and whole. This pressure is only for a moment and does not compare to the glory that God has prepared to be revealed in and through us.

Devotion:

• Take a few moments right now to find a quiet place and rest. Invite the Holy Spirit to search your heart to see if there is anything in your life that is hindering you from experiencing all of the beauty that God has in store for you.

• Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you something, such as a bad attitude, mindset, or habit that you may have.

• Ask the Holy Spirit to show you the root cause of this attitude. Once Holy Spirit reveals this to you, ask God to remove this root and help you to receive grace, healing, and freedom from this hindrance.

• Search your Bible app for scripture that would reveal the truth of what God says to trump any lies of the enemy. Ask God to reveal and stamp His truth upon your heart. Here are some topics that I pulled scripture to address.

  • Ruling a Temper

    • Proverbs 15:18

    • Psalm 37:7-9

    • 1 Corinthians 13:4

  • Changing Pride into God-Confidence

    • Galatians 6:4

    • James 4:6,10

    • Philippians 2:3

    • Proverbs 11:2; 13:10

  • Forgivness

    • Colossians 3:13

    • Ephesians 4:31-32

  • Redirecting Desires

    • 2 Timothy 2:22

    • 1 John 2:16

    • Galatians 5:16

  • Trading Fear for Peace

    • 2 Timothy 1:7

    • Phil 4:6

    • 1 John 4:18

  • Trading Self-Sufficiency for Dependence upon God

    • John 14:5-6; 15:5-7

    • Colossians 1:15-17

• End your time in prayer speaking these truths over yourself:

  • Romans 8:24-30

    • 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

      26 Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

  • Micah 7:18-19

    • Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity
          and passing over transgression
          for the remnant of his inheritance?
      He does not retain his anger forever,
          because he delights in steadfast love.
      19  He will again have compassion on us;
          he will tread our iniquities underfoot.
      You will cast all our[a] sins
          into the depths of the sea.