Master Potter

by Jill Austin

  Master Potter lifts Beloved up and carries her to a long hallway lined with closed doors. I wonder if I’ll ever see what’s behind them? she muses to herself.

  “Curious, are you?” He asks, as the first one swings open wide revealing the glazing room. A radiant cloud of glory spills out from behind the door. It’s so bright that Beloved squints to make out the figures of angels at work painting clay vessels. This glorious vision grips her soul with the beauty and promise of God’s handiwork for her own life.

  As the door closes gently, Master Potter whispers, “Beloved, someday you’ll be beautifully adorned, and then you’ll go through the Straits of the Dragon to the Land of Lost Promises.”

  “What’s behind the other doors, Lord? Can I see?” Master Potter chuckles as He hears her thoughts about sneaking a peek into the other doors later that night.

  Laughing tenderly He says, “No, Beloved, now is not the time. Each door represents a different season in the process of maturity. Trust Me to lead you in My perfect timing. You must not go in before you’re ready. You’ll see behind all of those doors soon enough.”

  CRUSHED BY HOLY LOVE

  Carrying her to the back of the Potter’s House, He takes Beloved through large wooden doors which open up into a red brick outer court that’s attached to the back of the studio. The area is sparse and nearly barren except for a large stone worktable. The barrenness of the courtyard seems to Beloved to be set in sharp contrast to the luxuriant gardens and the warmth of the Potter’s House.

  Carefully laying her broken clay vessel on the table, Master Potter touches the shattered pieces of her life. With great tenderness, He explains, “Beloved, it breaks My heart how terribly damaged you’ve become. That was never My intent for you, but sin extracts a high price.”

  The seriousness of His voice quiets her. Instinctively, Beloved feels the seriousness of the hour and senses that something important is about to happen. Fearing that she may not like it, she says, “Lord, I don’t understand. What are You trying to tell me?”

  “Beloved, do you remember your vision of the beautiful blue and white pitcher? The one I intend to make of you?”

  “Yes Lord, but I’m so damaged with these huge cracks running down my side. I can’t even hold water and my handle is nearly broken off. And look at my lip, it’s chipped and my words just dribble onto my shoes! How will I ever become what I saw in that vision? You’d have to practically start all over and completely remake me.”

  Master Potter’s eyes look deeply into hers, and large tears well up. Slowly, sadly, He tells her, “You’re right, I do have to start over. To fulfill the marvelous destiny I have for your life, I must crush you into fine dust, but I promise I’ll not lose even one particle of you. Each particle, like the hairs on your head, is numbered by Me. I will take you to My wheel, and from your dust, make you into that lovely pitcher.”

  “Please Lord, No! I don’t want to be crushed! I don’t want to hurt any more.”

  “This process is a necessary part of making you into that beautiful vessel, Beloved. But you will have to trust Me. The only crushing you’ve ever known has been abusive and painful; it was intended by the enemy to destroy you. My crushing is deeply rooted in My redemptive love to heal you. It will hurt for a moment, but the freedom and joy it brings will last through eternity.”

  Lying broken on the Potter’s table, she glances around and notices a large object with an inscription on its side. At first she can’t quite make it out but as He moves it closer she sees that it’s a stone etched with the words, “Unrelenting Love.”

  A cold shiver runs up her back. Shuddering, she asks, “Lord, what are You going to do to me? I thought my pain and suffering were over when You took me out of the Potter’s Field.”

  Tenderly He tells her, “I’m going to take Unrelenting Love and crush you into fine dust so I can remove all the brokenness and filth you picked up throughout your life. I know this is frightening to you, but it’s necessary to truly set you free. I must break off the sins of the past that hold you in bondage.”

  “No Lord,” she pleads. “Please don’t. I don’t think I can take one more thing.”

  “You’ll be in My hands the whole time, Beloved. Even in the painful moments I’ll be with you. I will never leave you or forsake you. Remember that I won’t allow a single moment of suffering or discomfort beyond what is necessary. If you’re willing to let Me crush you, I will add My living water and make you soft and pliable for My potter’s wheel.”

  LORD, HELP ME!

  Desperately wanting to be free of her past she cries out, “Lord, help me! I want to be willing to surrender to You even though I don’t understand. I want to follow You with all my heart. Help me, Lord.”

  The moment the prayer leaves her lips the penetrating wind and fire of Holy Spirit swirls around her, enveloping her broken vessel. After a few moments, a supernatural empowerment, an enabling grace, rises up in her spirit. It gives her the power to embrace and endure pain at the loving hands of Master Potter.

  Beloved closes her eyes, clenches her fists, inhales deeply and blurts out, “Yes Lord, I’m willing.”

  Carefully raising Unrelenting Love several inches above her, Master Potter strategically brings it down with just enough pressure that the first light tap forms a new crack down her side. She falls into several large pieces.

  The breaking exposes the guilt and burning shame of her past as haunting memories sweep over her. Retching rises up in her throat as overwhelming feelings of defilement and sexual abuse bring back the horrible sense of unworthiness. It was a time when her dignity and femininity were stripped away, and the memories torment her.

  With heart-wrenching sobs, Beloved cries out, “Lord, I’m so dirty and used up! I hate myself! There’s no hope for me! I’ve ruined my life! No one decent would ever want me now, especially after what Antagonist did to me.”

  YOU MUST FORGIVE

  “I’ve always wanted you, Beloved. You must forgive him and all the people who caused you so much pain.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding! Forgive him? You know the violent temper he had and how he used to beat me. I barely got away with my life the last time. I hate him! He just used me like all the other men.”

  “Yes Beloved, that is true. He did use you. But remember you used him too.” She sees a picture of herself the night she got thrown out of the Inn. She’s getting up from the dock, smoothing her hair and rubbing the tears from her eyes as she walks toward Antagonist. “You approached him because you didn’t want to spend the night on the docks. You sold your soul in a failed effort to feel loved and protected. But it wasn’t real, and you ended up feeling more hurt and alone.”

  “Lord, I’m so ashamed. I did awful things, things I don’t even want to remember.”

  “Nothing is hidden from Me, Beloved. I wept when I saw you so abused, but the power to overcome your past is found only in forgiveness. The mystery of forgiveness lies in the Cross. I died to release the power of forgiveness into the earth, which is why you must forgive others as I have forgiven you. I, too, was abused and chose to forgive.”

  Hot tears stream down her cheeks, “Oh Lord, please forgive me. I feel so dirty and ashamed. I’ve hurt so many people. I’m sorry I turned to men to fill the emptiness inside of me.”

  “I do forgive you, Beloved. And now you must forgive Antagonist and the other men who violated you.”

  Tears well up and sweat beads on her forehead. Beloved trembles and determines to forgive no matter how difficult it feels. “Lord, it’s hard, so hard. I have such horrific memories. I even still have bruises and scars, but because You love and forgive me, I choose to forgive him. Even though I don’t feel like it, I trust You.”

  Beloved looks perplexed as she sees tears in Master Potter’s eyes. “Beloved, you’ve captured My heart with your willingness to be obedient. As I continue to heal your heart, forgiving Antagonist won’t just be an act of your will.”

  REMOVING THE SHACKLES OF SHAME


  Firmly, yet tenderly, Master Potter brings Unrelenting Love down on the shards of Beloved’s body, crushing her into smaller and smaller bits. “I’m breaking off the shackles of shame and self-hatred. My death on the Cross makes a way for you to come to the Father. My shed blood breaks the sexual and soul connections you have with Antagonist and other men.”

  Beloved softly sobs, “Thank You for loving me so much! I’m getting clean. I can feel it. I’m getting free, I feel Your love for me.”

  “Beloved, in your self-protection you become cold and hard, but I’m calling you into a deep, intimate journey of the heart. I’m inviting you to make a holy exchange by giving you brand new innocence in exchange for your worldliness.”

  MADAM FALSE DESTINY

  “Now you need to forgive Madam False Destiny.”

  “Why should I forgive her? She said that she loved me like a daughter, then she didn’t believe me. She threw me out like trash. Anyway, now she knows I didn’t take her brooch. It’s not like I sinned against her.”

  “Beloved, we’re dealing with your heart, not Madam’s. Can you forgive her for her sin against you?”

  Deep sobs rise up from the pain of betrayal and rejection. “Oh Lord, I don’t know if I can. She ruined my life.”

  Speaking gently He says, “I know it’s hard to forgive, because there was an unhealthy connection in the spirit between you and Madam, and that needs to be broken.”

  “Lord, I don’t understand. What do you mean, ‘an unhealthy connection in the spirit’? I just felt there was something special between us.”

  “There was, but it was fueled by the demonic. I gave you both a prophetic gift. As a young girl, I called Madam to follow Me, but her hunger for power and influence opened the door to the demonic. Instead of becoming a prophetic voice for Me, she took the gift I gave her and became a spiritualist for My enemy.”

  “Now, she uses her prophetic gifting to manipulate and destroy lives, luring people into false destinies. She recognized your prophetic sensitivity and was assigned to bring you into Satan’s service. She mentored you to exploit people for your mutual advantage.”

  “Oh Lord, You’re right. It started out so innocently, but I became intrigued with the power of knowing people’s secrets. Madam showed me how to read tarot cards and to predict the future. She taught me to call on demons for the information.”

  “Beloved, when you experimented in the demonic realm, it opened doors for evil spirits to get their cruel talons into you. I called you to be a prophetic voice to bless people, not to use them.”

  “Lord, forgive me. Even though I wasn’t walking with You, I knew it was wrong to play with people’s emotions for my own gain. I’m so sorry. I thought I was the only one wounded, but I’ve hurt so many people in my life.”

  “Beloved, you need to renounce your involvement with Madam and the occult. Can you see that was when your life took a downward spiral?”

  “How was I so blind back then? You’re right; I see it now. The nightmares and the tormenting voices! I couldn’t stop them. Help me Lord, I want to be free. Forgive me for allowing Madam to use me. I do renounce all involvement in the occult. I’m so sorry.”

  DELIVERANCE

  Her words of repentance activate the vile demonic spirits of witchcraft and perversion. Fighting to maintain their ground, they screech, “We’ll never let her go. She’ll always be ours.” Writhing in agony she cries out, “Master Potter, help me!”

  With holy passion He declares, “Leave her! She belongs to Me! I break your power over her! You spirits of witchcraft and all your evil henchmen leave now!”

  Tenderly and compassionately Master Potter takes the stone, Unrelenting Love, and crushes the demonic strongholds.

  Infuriated that they must vacate their familiar dwelling, they leave in an explosion of curses as Master Potter’s powerful words dislodge their horrendous grasp. Dark sulfuric smoke erupts into the atmosphere as they are driven out to arid lands to begin their search for new victims.

  Beloved sobs with relief as heavy layers of demonic oppression are lifted off. “I no longer hear the tormenting voices! Oh, Lord I’m finally free. Thank You, Lord. I love You!”

  Suddenly she sees a vision of her past. She’s on the Potter’s Field, but this time she sees into the spirit realm. She is horrified at the demonic horde tormenting everyone there. Compassion wells up inside her for the other broken and lost vessels. The faces of Friendless, the squatty little broken mug, and Turncoat, the sugar bowl, flash before her.

  She realizes for the first time and blurts out, “We are all just broken pots. We were all the same. Without You, we could never get along much less love each other. We only looked out for ourselves, we didn’t have the ability to care about anyone else.” She turns to Him and their eyes meet. “Thank You so much for rescuing me.”

  Suddenly the thought of Friendless and Turncoat perishing on the Potter’s Field seems like a real possibility and totally unbearable. For the first time Beloved feels true caring toward others. It wells up inside her and she grieves for the lost. She feels Master Potter’s pain for them and is gripped in intercession. When she can stand it no more she cries out through her pain, “Won’t You go back to the Potter’s Field and rescue them too?”

  “I have a destiny for all my cherished vessels. You’ll find out that the hardest thing, the most heartbreaking thing, is to wait for them to choose life. All they have to do is cry out for Me, Beloved, and I’ll move Heaven and earth to be there for them. We have to wait, and we have to pray.”

  Master Potter tenderly scoops all that remains of the broken vessel, the fine dust of her life, into His protective hands. Not one precious particle is missing.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  BAPTISM OF LOVE

  Dazed from the crushing, Beloved feels somewhat bewildered as Master Potter scoops her off the stone table and carries her from the brick courtyard. “I’m taking you to Abundant Life Falls. That’s where the River of Life begins. It flows downstream and turns the wheel at the Settler’s Mill where my wheat is turned to flour. Off in the distance she sees a steep, winding trail and a path that leads through the forest to the foothills of a rugged, snow-capped mountain range known by the villagers of Comfort Cove as the Formidables.

  She hears the sound of water furiously cascading down a glorious waterfall. The icy water rushes over a sheer cliff, plummeting hundreds of feet onto moss-covered rocks below. Translucent rainbows appear in the hovering mist over crystal clear pools at the bottom of the falls.

  Cupping her safely in His hands, Master Potter carries Beloved down the steep path to the bottom of the waterfall to a hidden, gentle pool behind the cascading flow. “These are the Abundant Life Falls and it is here that I will take you through the waters of baptism so that you may rise to new life in Me.” Leaning down, He lovingly immerses Beloved.

  The living waters soak into her pores. Refreshing! Invigorating! Coming up out of the water she watches a beautiful rainbow of promise emerge in the sparkling atmosphere. He tenderly holds her close once again before setting her down in the pool.

  “Rest, Beloved,” Master Potter smiles. “I will return for you later.” She watches Him walk away until He’s lost in the distance.

  In the evening shadows, Valiant stands guard with his sword blazing. Smiling down at his little charge, he sighs with contentment as she raises her face in wonderment. The beauty of creation and the majesty of the stars emerge like brilliant diamonds against the deepening cobalt-blue night.

  The large full moon illuminates the cascading waterfalls and shimmering pools. Valiant and a glorious angelic choir burst into song as celestial instruments fill the night. Beloved reaches her hands upward to touch the heavens in worship—as her heart touches the face of God.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  KNEADED IN HIS LOVE

  Early one morning, Beloved looks up to see Master Potter returning for her. He gazes at her fondly, kneels down and scoops up her wet clay in Hi
s hands. With loving care, Master Potter places her clay back into the singing pools of worship.

  Her excitement at finally being ready for the wheel turns to irritation when she realizes she’s being put back into the water. She groans, “Lord, when am I going to be made into one of those beautiful vessels I saw being loaded on the flagships?”

  Smiling, He reaches down and picks her up again, gently telling her, “It’s not time yet. But I’ll show you the process all clay must go through to be made ready for the Potter’s wheel.

  “You are what I call immature or green clay. If I put you on the wheel before you have time to age, you’ll be unable to yield to the molding of My hands. Your walls will be thick because your clay will have no elasticity. Therefore, you need more time soaking in My presence to become a beautiful vessel and fulfill your destiny.”

  Beloved changes her attitude as she realizes there’s no way out of the pool and everyone must go through the same process. She adoringly looks up into His face. “I want to be beautiful. If I have to stay here to do it, then that’s what I’ll do. But how do I become aged clay?”

  SEASONS OF GOD

  “It just takes time, that’s all. The process can’t be hurried. Clay must sit through hard, cold winters where the water turns to ice. Then it thaws when the spring rains come, bringing new life. Summer heat and warm waters make the clay soft and pliable again.”

  “Even then the process is not complete. The fall season comes and the dying process begins once more. The freezing and thawing, the breaking down and building up—all of these things transform green clay into flexible aged clay. Beloved, this is the process you must go through. Therefore you must be patient and simply choose to trust Me. One day it will happen. You will reach your destiny, I promise.”