Refined by the Maker

I married a craftsman.

He isn’t one by trade but definitely is by hobby. In the almost three years we’ve been married, I have seen him dabble in leatherwork, woodwork, bookbinding, and others. It’s always impressed me how people with crafting eyes like his can take a sheet of leather or a slab of wood and create something beautiful.  

Last week, my husband decided to make a quiver to celebrate one of my sisters advancing to her state archery competition. He worked on it meticulously. String, dye, rivets, and leather scraps graced my dining room table.

To ensure it was top-notch, he stayed up all night the day before the competition, sewing, carving, and molding the piece into precisely what he envisioned. When the time came for him to give her this precious gift, she jumped with joy. Her smile lit up the room as she held it up with pride.

Yet, days after he presented the gift, he told me about the imperfections he knew existed. As the quiver’s maker, he knew there were ridges, bumps, and not-so-perfect parts about it. He continued to explain that if my sister wanted, he could fix some of those stubborn spots.

The only problem was my sister never once noticed the errors. 

While the giftee saw beauty, the craftsman noticed his flaws.

This interaction made me wonder what our Master Craftsman thinks of His creations.

In His might, the Lord molded us feeble humans in His image. But, as Someone who is the picture of perfection, He also sees our imperfections, not because He made a mistake but because the curse of sin has left its ugly stains in our lives.

In our strength, we can easily overlook our imperfections. Without time to reflect and repent of our sins, we often carry bitterness, stubbornness, jealousy, pride, and more. But when we look to our Master Craftsman, we are given the opportunity to release our worries and be refined by the spotless One.

All we have to do is let Him work in our lives.

In Jeremiah 18, we see a picture of a potter at the wheel. As the potter molds his clay, he realizes he is unsatisfied with his creation. Instead of continuing, he destroys his masterpiece and shapes it again until it is his liking (verse 4).

Then the Lord asks the prophet Jeremiah a question.

 “Can I not, O house of Israel, deal with you as this potter does?” declares the Lord. “Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel” (Jeremiah 18:6).  

When I first read this passage, I was taken aback. The potter destroyed the clay before he remade it. And in verse 6, the Lord is stating that he wants to deal with His people just like the potter did with the clay!

Like most of you, I don’t particularly appreciate or want my life, needs, or plans to be wholly shattered. But the reality that is what is sometimes necessary so that the Lord can be glorified, our faith sharpened, and He can further refine His creation.

When it comes down to it, if we truly want to be more like Him, we must allow His skillful hand to correct our rough edges and imperfections.

But now, O Lord, You are our Father, we are the clay, and You our potter; and all of us are the work of Your hand. (Isaiah 64:8)