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vessel, as it pleased the potter to make.” That was a surprise!
The potter who knew the clay, the potter that was so skillful, the
potter who was in control, all of a sudden the clay is ruined in
His hands. I want to make one little explanation here.

When you think of the vessel being ruined, usually we think of
a shard or a broken piece of vessel. But that’s the vessel after
the kiln. This is not after the fire. That’s a different revelation
of Jesus. That’s Jesus the Smelter, not Jesus the potter. That’s
a message all its own. This is the clay on the wheel. As it was
being formed there was a hard spot on the clay. If the potter
were only making a ball, that stubborn spot may never have
been discovered. In the clay there was maybe a hair, a piece of
straw, a stone. If he were only making a ball, the potter would
never find that hard piece of clay. Because he’s making a
beautiful vessel, like Christ, embellished, and elegant, when
God works with us, sometimes in His work He finds a stubborn
spot. I’m so glad that the clay was ruined in His hands.

Then Jeremiah saw something else. He saw the potter’s mind
and he saw the potter’s hand and he saw the potter’s foot and
he’s about to see the potter’s heart. When he saw the clay
ruined he did an amazing thing. He did not throw the clay away.
I would have thrown me away a long time ago. But the Bible
says that He made another vessel that brought joy to His heart.
Do you believe that the Potter is making you into a vessel?

I’m satisfied that He’s satisfied with everything that He has
done. Am I satisfied that He is satisfied with everything He is
doing? If God works that in your heart you will know what rest
is. It’s being satisfied that He is satisfied. I don’t have to know
what God is doing. I have to know that He knows what He is
doing.

I’m going to leave the potter’s house now and go to the New
Testament and give one more illustration. Matthew 8:24, “And
behold, there arose a great storm in the sea, so that the boat was
covered with the waves; but He Himself was asleep.” Our Lord