“Plan on getting dirty” were the first words the instructor said at the start of my pottery lessons. And, oh girl, she was right.

I was filthy!

I had clay up to my elbows and dirt on my jeans.

But, I loved it!

Getting my hands in the clay, kneading it, and throwing it while I kicked the wheel was one of the most fun and meaningful experiences I’ve ever had.  And, the result from all that dirt? Beautiful, useful pottery that I enjoy and am proud of.

But, what if I had avoided getting dirty?

What if all I saw was ugly, muddy clay in its present form instead of seeing its potential?

A potter doesn’t look at clay and say, “Uck! That’s ugly and way too dirty for me to touch!”

If that were the attitude of the potter, the clay would never reach its potential. What if the potter said, “Man, I can’t stand to look at that mound of dirt? I only like lovely, attractive things. So, I’ll avoid that nasty mess and wait for something pretty to come along.”

If the potter wasn’t willing to get dirty, the clay would never become the beautiful thing the potter desired.

God is the Master Potter. We are the clay. God is willing to get dirty for us.

He sees us as worth His time and His touch. You may feel like a mess — dirty, unattractive, or useless. But, God does not see you that way.

He places His gentle hand on your life because He sees you as worth shaping into His divine design.

God doesn’t look at you and see a mess; He looks at you and sees a masterpiece in the making!

You are not too messy for God.

He specializes in making old things new, turning scarlet sins into spotless snow, and transforming ashes into beauty.

So, give Him your dirt. Show up in His presence with your mess… your whole mess and let Him show you what He can do.

My friend, you can trust the Lord with all your heart… all your weakness… all your dirt!

Confess it all to Him. Even if you’ve got a dump truck full of dirt, God is faithful to forgive you and cleanse you.

Jesus proved on the Cross that He is willing to get dirty for you.

The stuff that you think is just too messy, too ugly, too dirty is the very stuff God can use to shape and form you into a beautiful vessel.

The sin you’re ashamed of? God can take that and use it to create beautiful humility.
The failures you regret? God can take those and turn them into wisdom.
The missed opportunities? God can use those to make you reflect His grace.

You are not too messy for God.

His hand is on you.

Remain in His hands, my friend, even if you’re feeling unworthy. God thinks you are worth it and He won’t stop transforming you until your mess becomes His masterpiece.

Oh, thank you, Lord! Do your thing in our lives, Jesus! We give You our dirt. Use it, redeem it. Thank you for taking all our junk and using it to make us more like You. Amen.

“Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.” Isaiah 64:8

Question: How did He change you from mud to a masterpiece? How has God made old things new in your life?