Trust,valleys and clay

I had the utmost pleasure of attending a women's meeting last night where a dear friend whom I have known for over twenty years spoke. It was not the kind of "know" like her birthday, even her address and phone number....but the "know" many of us have of people we go to church with. How unfortunate. I knew her as a young teen and I had not seen her for years. Many. She and her husband now are attending The Vineyard and I am happy to say I "know" her differently now. Okay, introductions aside. Her story (just the chapter I heard) was outstanding. She had us laughing, crying, nodding in agreement, sighing with understanding, raising our hand in agreement and captivated. I must share a few nuggets.

Trust. Do I fully trust God? I want to believe I do. Deeply. Immensely. Life abandoningly. Will my feelings be hurt when a day will come and I will be in a valley and I "think", "I should be saved from this?"

Valleys. We are told time and time again in God's word that this is where God's power is shown. Most battles are fought and won there. Even David and Goliath fought in one. Victory is accomplished there. We are proven there.

Clay. It is the tools, and the effort of the Potter that produce the desired vessel. Some tools etch, smooth even wetten. Constant motion keeps us centered. The grip and pressure of the hands are what molds it.

This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD : "Go down to the potter's house, and there I will give you my message." So I went down to the potter's house, and I saw him working at the wheel. But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. Jeremiah 18:1-4

Sue, my friend, recently experienced breast cancer. Her valley has been wrought with battles of trust. She has been reformed into a vessel that was filled last night with wisdom. Then she was emptied out for a room full of women to receive encouragement and hope.