The Potter's Touch

“...being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion...” Philippians 1:6 (NIV)

At last, upon the potters’ wheel, my heart it soared with glee.

At last, the Master, He would make me what He wanted me to be.

With joy, I yielded fully to His kind and gentle touch

He shaped me and He molded me, and I loved it very much.

And as the wheel spun, round and round, the vision became clear

of how my Master, He would use me, and my heart burst forth with cheer.

My Master, He took off his hands. His handiwork was through.

A touch of paint, a bit of glaze, some final touches, too.

My heart was so excited as the wheel began to slow.

To get up off the potters’ wheel, and off to work I’d go.

But much to my discouragement, he sat me high up on the shelf.

I cried, “Oh, Lord, please use me. I am ready. I just know!”

He chuckled very softly, and with a tender smile,

“My child, you are not ready yet,” and then He turned to go.

A lump welled up within me, and I tried hard not to cry,

so I cheered myself with my Master’s work as I watched me slowly dry.

And as I sat upon the shelf, I began to look around.

My gaze fell on some pottery that sat on a table round.

Some were big, some were small, but all were strong and bright.

“Oh, I want to be used like them,” I wished with all my might.

But when I looked upon myself, much to my dismay,

all I saw was very dull paint and very brittle clay.

When will my Master use me? Will I be used at all?

Just look at the other pottery there - Why did He make me at all?

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Imagine my delight the day my Master took me off the shelf!

My heart began to beat so fast. My thoughts began to soar!

A song was in my heart. This is what I’ve been waiting for!

He sat me down so gently, and then He stepped away.

My eyes, they strained to catch a glimpse of how He would use me that first day!

Then all went dark around me,

a roar was loud within my ears.

I turned to see the source and stopped,

the heat, it stunned and seared.

“I cannot breathe, my Master! Oh, help me out of here!

I cannot bear the pain of it! Why can’t my Master hear?

It hurts so much! My pain is great! Oh, does my Master care?

I don’t understand. Please make it stop! It’s more than I can bear.”

Then a calming voice, my Master’s, spoke softly in my ear,

“Trust Me, I AM here.”

And the heat was still overwhelming, and the pain was very clear,

but I put my trust in my Master, and His peace He gave me here.

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I awakened to his soothing touch.

I don’t know how long I had slept.

With kindness, He spoke to me,

and then He picked me up.

I couldn’t look Him in the eye. I wasn’t feeling well.

With a towel, He did his handiwork upon my tender shell.

He gently lifted up my chin to look Him in the eye

And there, upon His face, I saw a beaming, radiant smile.

How could He be so happy with my hopes completely crushed?

Knowing what I’d just been through, I was ruined, I knew that much.

He sat me on the table and then he stepped away.

My heart it broke within me, and I hung my head in shame.

I dared to gaze upon myself as slowly I looked down,

Oh, what glory that I found!

The clay that once was brittle was solid, strong, and firm.

And the paint that once was dull shone bright, just like I’d always yearned!

My heart could not believe it, my eyes they were amazed!

Then the Master came and filled me up with HIS AMAZING GRACE!

🤎 Terra ©2006/2025

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,  because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4 (NIV)