Forming a Vessel: Timing, Pressure, and Watering
Forming a Vessel
Timing | Pressure & Pull | Water
Formation Overview
Now that the potter has centered the vessel upon the wheel and established the foundation, it is time to bring up the walls of the vessel. Building the walls of the vessel is an intricate process based on proper pressure, timing, and watering. To build the walls, the potter “pulls up” the clay walls by supporting the inside of the clay “volcano” with one hand and applying pressure with a sponge or fingers on the outside of the clay with the other hand. With each full rotation of the wheel, the potter takes one “pass” to bring up the clay. Each pass shifts the height of the clay walls to a new level. If the potter rushes this process by making the rotations of the wheel too fast, the clay will be stretched too fast and cause cracks in the walls, which will make the clay collapse and unsuitable for firing. As the potter is pulling up the walls of the clay, he must ensure that the clay is watered so that it can be malleable and surrender to the hands of the potter.
Timing
Because God is a God of purpose, he has a purpose for every season of our lives, even though we cannot see it. Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “For everything, there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” Verse three speaks of a time to break down and a time to build up. Times of building are so exciting that we often fight the urge to rush the process. One day in the pottery studio, I had a deadline and wanted to make one more bowl in a very short amount of time. I rushed through the steps and started forming the walls, which took only a few seconds. Everything looked fine until the wheel stopped. I saw cracks all around the walls of the bowl. The walls weakened because I rushed the timing. I had to completely start over. I was so disappointed because I thought I would be able to be quick, but I lost my patience and my vessel. God has a purpose of building patience and good form in the process of building us up. We do not know the vessel that the Master Potter is forming us to be, but He knows. When we rush ahead of God’s timing, we can be too weak to withstand the growth required of us. Even after David was anointed King, he had to wait many years before he actually ruled. He sat under King Saul and learned how to be a king (as well as what not to do). Additionally, the walls of Jericho did not fall the first time the children of Israel marched around them. God told them to march seven times and let out a shout unto God. As they followed God’s timing, God provided the miracle. To be strong vessels, we must be in step with God’s timing because he knows the pace to set for us. We may feel like it is taking forever for us to grow into what we feel like God is leading us to be. Maybe we feel like everyone around us is forming so much faster. - new job, marriage, children, college, etc. There is a multitude of circumstances that can make us feel like life is moving slowly, but we must trust God’s timing. He hasn’t forgotten about us. He is near.
The Pressure and The Pull
The pressure of the potter’s hands produces the stretch and growth that the walls of the vessel need in order to be formed into the Potter’s vision. Applying too much pressure to the walls of the vessel will also cause the clay to become weak and crack - which was a problem that occurred in my personal story above. The clay must be surrendered to the hands of the potter to stretch and grow. We are constantly invited to allow God to use the circumstances in our lives to apply pressure upon us and to form us into the vessels he envisions. We were never meant to be apathetic. We were meant to be marvelous works of the great creator. God can use this pressure for a purpose - not to push us down but to pull us into and support growth.
As the potter is pulling up the walls, he begins to form the vessel into the desired shape. Forming into the vessel that the Master Potter envisions, requires each of us to lean into the pulls and pushes, but this is a challenge. To be formed, we cannot stay small and immature. I think that when we are truly honest with ourselves, we will realize that we do not desire to be fully challenged, even though we are up to certain lower levels of challenge. We are afraid that being fully challenged will make us crumble because we know we have limitations. We cannot conquer the highest challenges or rise above the pressure in our own strength. Facing this reality is a pretty big blow to our self-esteem. But this is exactly the place where God meets us. When we reach the end of ourselves, we realize our need for God. We cannot rise to be anything in our strength. We have to allow God to gently press us into his calling in his timing. As he pulls, we stretch into form.
Watering
How can we stay malleable enough to be formed by the timing and pressure? Water. The clay must be properly watered so that it is flexible enough to be pulled up and stretched by the potter. The Holy Spirit and the Word of God are the water that keeps us available to God’s pull. We need the Holy Spirit to soften our hearts and the word of God to renew our minds so that we can stay surrendered to the Master Potter’s vision for our lives.
Devotion:
Today, I invite you to once again surrender to the timing of the Lord and allow God to use the pressure placed upon you to pull you into the vessel of glory that he envisions. Lean on the Lord for a renewed strength and a refreshing flow of God’s spirit. Sit down in your favorite quiet spot and meditate on the following scriptures allowing them to become the prayers of your heart for this week.
Isaiah 40: 28-31
28 Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
his understanding is unsearchable.
29 He gives power to the faint,
and strengthens the powerless.
30 Even youths will faint and be weary,
and the young will fall exhausted;
31 but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength,
they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,
they shall walk and not faint.
John 4: 13-15
13 Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14 but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.” 15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I may never be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.”
Galatians 6:9-18
9 Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to the family of faith. 11 See what large letters I am using to write to you with my own hand! 12 Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised. They only do this to avoid persecution for the cross of Christ. 13 For the circumcised do not even keep the law themselves, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast in your flesh.
14 But as for me, may I never boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything. What counts is a new creation. 16Peace and mercy to all who walk by this rule, even to the Israel of God. 17From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.
18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers [and sisters].
Amen.