The Purpose in the Process: Bone Dry and Fiery Trials

Bone Dry and Fiery Trials

Meeting God in Suffering

After the vessel is formed and the footer is cut out, the Potter allows the clay to sit out to and dry. The end of this stage in the process is when the clay is called “Bone Dry.” Each vessel must reach this point before it can be fired. If too much moisture is present, the clay vessels will release so much steam into that may cause it to burst at extreme levels. After the clay is completely dry, the vessel is placed into the kiln and bisque fired to around 900-1,000 celsius. The fire draws out the final amounts of water from the chemical bonds of the clay and burns out the carbon from the clay. This process fuses the clay particles together making the vessel’s density and strength increase. When the clay is bisque fired, it transforms from its most fragile state to a strong vessel.

Bone Dry

When I think about bone dry vessels, I think of the seasons in life where we feel spiritually dry - fatigued from the stress and strain of life. Maybe it’s the waiting season where we feel dry? We’ve been formed and feel like we are ready to take on the calling that God has on our lives, but God says wait. At these points, we become very fragile. It can feel like there is no purpose for this season. However, this season is an invitation to the humble posture of stillness before God. What is inside of us slowly releases in this stillness. The washing of the water that made the clay malleable on the Master Potter’s wheel represents the Word and Spirit of God. This water soaks inside of the vessel and is slowly released as the vessel becomes bone dry. Our current placement in our processes may not look like our purpose to us, but through the progression, we are being prepared for our purpose. The purpose of the process is the preparation for our promise. In the quiet stillness at the feet of Jesus and His Word is where we find the promises of God.

Fiery Trials

When I think about the kiln fire, I think about the trials of this life. Trials of life could be named as grief, temptation, deep emotional pain, disappointment, financial hardship, life-threatening sickness, or even persecution. No matter the cause, trials of life can be extremely difficult seasons. Peter encouraged the Jewish Christians who were dispersed into different nations and suffering as he said:

"Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings that when His gory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.” - 1 Peter 4:12-13

I love Peter’s passion, but I’m sure if I was suffering as those people were, I would think: Rejoice in suffering? Are you serious?! Rejoicing in suffering is not something anyone wants to do, but Peter is sharing revelation from God. In the context of this scripture, He shares that it is a blessing to bear the name of Jesus and the possible persecution that comes with a commitment to Christ. Life on this earth that is under the curse of sin and death will include trials. The forces of evil walk around like roaring lions seeking whom they may devour. Our battle is not with flesh and blood, but it is in the spirit (Ephesians 6:12). The enemy hates your faith in Christ, and he will try to destroy your faith with suffering. However, we can choose to allow our suffering to inspire dependence upon the strength of the Lord. Jesus is no stranger to suffering. He empathizes with the sufferings of this life - both great and small.

“Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:14-15

Jesus’ compassionate presence in the form of the Holy Spirit will meets us in the fire as the Angel of the Lord met Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego after they held to their righteous confession of faith.

God can use the fires of life to strengthen us so that we are able to hold the glory that God, our Master Potter, wants to reveal through us. When scripture speaks of God’s glory being revealed in earthen vessels, it’s talking about the people of God. The fires draw out what we consume and hold inside of us. If we allow the Word and Spirit of God to fill us, then the fire will draw that out of us. Through God’s word and presence, we may be strengthened. The fires can strengthen our character and trust in God as we experience His presence in our suffering. God can also work in the midst of the fire to burn off impurities inside of us like the carbon is burnt off from the clay vessels. Through this process, we are strengthened, refined, and able to reveal the glory of God as we reflect the Master Potter’s likeness and vision.

Devotion:

In this time, take a moment and think about what trial, temptation, or specific “fire” that you may be facing. This fire that you are facing make be difficult and feel like more than you can endure, but God’s compassionate presence is present in your suffering. Think about God’s presence with you in this situation. Allow the flames of suffering to draw the worship that is inside of you upward to the Lord. This changes the atmosphere of the fire and strengthens your faith. As you are focused on the presence of God with you, meditate on the scripture below.

1 Peter 1:6-9

 6 In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, 7 so that the genuineness of your faith—being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Hebrews 2:9-10

But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering o death crowned with glory and honor, that He, ny the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting for Him, for by whome are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

Romans 8:18-19

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.

Prayer

God, I ask that you show me your presence in this time of suffering. Strengthen me to persevere through the trial. Burn off any part of me that is not pleasing to you or serving your vision for my life. Refine me through the fire so that I may be made into Your vessel of glory. I believe that I am Your beautiful creation called to reveal Your glory in the earth. I believe that the magnitude of this suffering does not even begin to compare to the glory of God that will be revealed in my life and in the age to come. Let me see this come to pass in your timing.