Tag: Doubt

What Happens When The Potter Decides To Remold The Vessel?

 

Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words. Then I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel. Jeremiah 18:2-6

Life settled in ok. In some ways it seemed this long distance marriage had the benefit of not having to deal with how different we were. Before I married Terry, I had placed one rule. “You do not know the history of all my children have had to face. You will not interfere in how I choose to discipline, raise, or guide my children. If you disagree with what I have done; then, you will tell me in private. I will take your thoughts into consideration.” He swore to abide by this rule and did. Actually, he never even took the time to speak with or get to know my sons.  All seemed well. Comfortable at least. 6767514_l

When the Master Potter choses to remake you, what then?

I began to wonder about getting my Master’s Degree to become a Nurse Practitioner. Maybe then, I could better support my family. When I applied to Vanderbilt, Terry told me, “You won’t get accepted there.  I’ve known too many nurses who tried and that school is too hard to get in to.” But I was accepted right away, and was asked to start in September 1997. I thought about delaying, except Alberto and Ronald both told me to “do it.” They assured me that they could be responsible enough to manage the house and attend high school each day. I trusted them to do just that and told them so.  They were

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3 Steps Transforming Doubt into Amazing Faith and Joy

Doubt, fear, worry all seem to be a part of our human nature at times. Interwoven within our humanity there is that part of our brains and emotions that so quickly responds to situations with fear and doubt. Perhaps that is why in the scripture over and over is written, “Do not fear.” God’s way of saying, “I know you don’t understand fully; but, don’t be afraid and don’t worry.” He so gently, so patiently reminds us over and over again. Just like a loving Father who comforts a child; He is constantly reminding us of His presence and His love. He reminds us of His presence. He reminds us of His love. Ever so patiently He teaches us, guides us and comforts us along this journey. How quickly we react to situations at first with fear or doubt!! I know I do and I suspect if you look deep within so do you. Perhaps that is why we so quickly want to condemn Thomas’s doubting; yet, can we? If we focus so much on Thomas’s doubt or “why he failed”; perhaps, we fail to understand the true wonder and grace that faith itself is. Even my faith is a gift of God which He ever so gently prunes and grows within me along the way.

Wait a moment

We know very little about Thomas from the scripture; but, I think we need to look just a little deeper at what we are told about him. Instead of immediately using Thomas as an example of what we “shouldn’t be”; I believe that as we need to look a little deeper at Thomas’ walk to discover what we should be. Thomas is mentioned only as being one of the apostles in Matthew, Mark, Luke and Acts. Only in John do we get some insight into who Thomas was. We are told that was called “Didymus” which means twin. Four times in the book of John, Thomas’s conversation is recorded. What is amazing is that Thomas is the only one who is recorded as proclaiming Jesus is God. Jesus had been called “Messiah”, “Teacher”, “Master”, and “Son of God”. Yet, we read in John 20:28 that when Jesus stood before him, Thomas said “My Lord and my God.” What were the steps in Thomas’s walk that perhaps we need to look at with fresh eyes, seeking to know the truth. Then, perhaps when we quit criticizing him so much we can actually see the steps we also need to finding a deeper faith when we face life’s trials.

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