Does a clay pot dare argue with its maker, a pot that is like all the others? Does the clay ask the potter what he is doing? Does the pot complain that its maker has no skill?

Do we dare say to our parents, “Why did you make me like this?” The Lord, the holy God of Israel, the one who shapes the future, says: “You have no right to question me about my children or to tell me what I ought to do!

Isaiah 45:9-11 (GNT)

We weren’t born fully equipped to serve God. We were, however, each born with specific personalities, likes, and dislikes. We were each given traits by our Creator, FOR our Creator. Yet we argue with Him constantly. We grumble and complain about the way we look, about the lack of gifts and talents we desire, and in not so many words, we tell Him He did it wrong. We tell Him through our insecure thoughts, our critical words, and our dissatisfaction that He messed up. But here’s the truth: we are not our perfect God’s mistakes; we are our own worst enemies. 

From birth, our Master Potter molds us and transforms us from useless lumps of clay into vessels He can use. He is constantly at work in our lives perfecting the imperfections of our hearts and shaping us according to His plan, His design. No one wins when we yank the clay away from God, determined to shape ourselves, but we do it all the time. The result is a battle between two potters fighting over the same lump of clay—each pushing and poking and pulling, trying to guide that lump into two completely different shapes. But together, they will only end up with something oddly misshapen that cannot be used for anything. Our Master Potter doesn’t need our input or our guidance. He just needs us to let go and stop fighting for control.

God’s plan for you is infinitely better than anything you could design on your own. You won’t get there by fighting Him for control; you will get there through surrender. His plans have been in place since before the beginning (Ephesians 2:10), and the heart and the life He has planned for you is more beautiful and blessed than you can imagine. Give Him control, and allow Him to shape you and your life into a stunning work of art, useful for His purposes and overflowing with blessings. You are loved!