On a Sunday afternoon, I sit on one end of the sectional, reading, and she sat on the other end, crocheting. I watched as she carefully transformed the wool, slowly, as she scrutinized her work. After several rows were completed, she began to look more carefully, examining each row, and then made her decision –
She tore it all out and started over again.
Life is like that at times. We go through our days, carefully planning the time out so as to make the most of our day. There are days, we put our heads on our pillows with a contented sigh, knowing the day went smoothly and much was accomplished.
And then there are those days, when nothing seemed to go well or smoothly. We long for a chance to do it all over again.
God knows exactly how we feel. In speaking to Jeremiah, God instructs Jeremiah to go down to the potter’s house for a first hand lesson …
“So I did as he told me and found the potter working at his wheel. But the jar he was making did not turn out as he had hoped, so he crushed it into a lump of clay and started over.” (Jeremiah 18:1-4, NLT)
Why is it we equate starting over, or do-over’s, as failure?
At those times when a do-over is called for, may we remind ourselves …
We are but clay in His hands.
“And yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter. We all are formed by your hand.” (Isaiah 64:8, NLT)**
He has purpose in the crushing and starting over process. May we not fight Him, struggling against His hand. He knows what He is forming …
“Should the thing that was created say to the one who created it, “Why have you made me like this?” When a potter makes jars out of clay, doesn’t he have a right to use the same lump of clay to make one jar for decoration and another to throw garbage into?” (Romans 9:20-21, NLT)
Let me return to the crocheting happening on our couch. She had pulled out the completed rows. Rows which had taken much time that afternoon so she could start over. She knew what was in her head, having a picture of near perfection in mind. She started over, and painstakingly with the same wool, only this time, the wool became a thing of beauty.
Know why our God often seems to crush and start over with the canvas of our lives?
“He does this to make the riches of his glory shine even brighter on those to whom he shows mercy, who were prepared in advance for glory.”
(Romans 9:23, NLT)
Let that sink in.
Do-overs often lead to “Done!”
All for His glory.
Today I am joining … Thought Provoking Thursday and Woman 2 Woman and Everyday Jesus .
As a knitter and a child of God, I can totally relate. This is a beautiful analogy. Lovely post. Stopping by from Thought-Provoking Thursday. Blessings on your day!
I’m glad the analogy resonated with you. It is amazing to me that it took a bit to come together for me. But it was a lesson which struck deeply. Glad you stopped & shared. Have a blessed day!
Do-overs often lead to “Done!”
What a great reminder, Joanne. Sometimes we feel like to start all over means we’ve wasted our time. But not true. God is always teaching us things, even in mess-ups–maybe ESPECIALLY in the mess-ups–and he’s so good to allow us to begin fresh every day.
Lisa, it is so true how often what appears to be a mess turns out to be the best for us in the long run. He truly loves us so.
Great message, Joanne. I often need to be reminded that God is molding me and I’m not finished yet!
Sabra, He is continually molding me. My problem is I so want to be a thing of beauty rather than a clump 🙂 Yet it is in the process of transformation which brings the beauty.
Lovely reminder, because it’s so easy to be lazy — not really dealing with the “mess ups” and hoping no one will notice. Better to go back to the beginning (God) and let him start the project on the right foot.
Sometimes I think our pride gets in the way of having to start over too. May we be women willing to humble ourselves, motivated & determined to let Him start us over. But we do learn in the process 🙂
I think this may be my favorite blog post of yours ever. I could see the visual of the crocheting. Such a good word! This encouraged me in all the right places today. xo
Lyli, you have no idea how your comment encouraged me. Grateful these words encouraged you as well.
I love this and it’s a great perspective. I can also relate as I too crochet and find myself tearing out rows and starting over.
Grateful you were able to relate & that you shared. May we come to realize that starting over is not indicative of failure but of a beauty yet to come!
Thank you for these reminders. They hit home for me right now.
Grateful they did. I know I needed the reminder myself. Blessings!
What a fun analogy, Joanne! I think this is the first post you have linked up that wasn’t FMF and I love your lengthier writing just as much. Our Do-overs = Done. LOVE IT!
Sharita, your encouragement means much to me. Thank you for encouraging us all at Everyday Jesus with your friendship!