The Broken Pot

There was once a Potter who visited a shop.

The shop owner was very happy to have him there and wasted no time in showing him his most prized pots. They were indeed beautiful. Some had unusual designs or figures on them. “These are my best pots,” the shop owner proclaimed, proudly.

But the Potter shook his head. “They are very nice,” he said. “But this is not what I want.”

Perplexed, the shop owner led him to another shelf. “How about one of these?” he asked. “They are a bit chipped, but surely, they can be used for something…”

Again, the Potter shook his head. “This is not what I want.” Then, looking past the shop owner towards the back of the shop, he asked, “What about that one?”

The shop owner followed his gaze. “Oh, no, sir…you don’t want that pot. Can’t you see? It’s shattered. It’s useless.”

“Are all the pieces there?” the Potter asked.

The shop owner shrugged. “Well…yes.”

The Potter took a step towards the broken fragments.

“Why do you want that pot,” the shop owner asked, “When there are so many others here?”

A smile crossed the Potter’s face. “Because the strongest pots of all are the ones that have first been broken,” he answered.

And that night, with great care and gentleness, the Potter carried the broken pieces home and began his work.

Many, many weeks later, the king of all the land held a great feast for all his subjects. Both the Potter and the shop owner were present. They greeted one another warmly and talked for awhile. Then, the shop owner looked at one of the pots on the kings table. “It’s a beautiful pot,” he remarked. “But for some reason, it seems as if I’ve seen it before.”

“Do you remember a certain broken pot?” the Potter asked.

“Yes.” Then a look of shock passed the shop owner’s face as he looked again at the pot, the one he had seen no use for. He gave his head a shake, seeing with new eyes. “You don’t mean…that broken pot…?”

“Yes.” The Potter beamed. “That broken pot.”.
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Isaiah 64:8 (KJV)
But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.

Jeremiah 18:1-6 (KJV)
The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words. Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.

Do you feel like a broken pot? Does it seem as though your life is in pieces? Do you feel as though you are being pulled in different directions? Have you gone through marital problems; family being torn apart; stress; depression set in; health issues; that have overwhelmed you?

No matter what the trials and sufferings we have or are going through, we are still very important and treasured by the Master. Just like the broken pot, God can take our broken lives and make them into something beautiful; if we give Him, the Potter, ALL the pieces.

Dear Heavenly Father, I come before you, broken like this clay pot, take the pieces of my life that have overly beset me and make me a useful vessel, worthy of your use. Thank you Heavenly Father that you can use the trials and sufferings that I have gone through and turn them into something beautiful so I can encourage others.

Story of the Broken Pot by Julia Khoury , Devotional by Michele Williams