The Potter's Hand: Embracing Change as a Path to Grace

Exploring the Intersection of Philosophy and Faith in Our Journey of Spiritual Transformation

In one of his great works (Cratylus), Plato writes,

“Socrates: Heraclitus, I believe, says that all things pass and nothing stays, and comparing existing things to the flow of a river, he says you could not step twice into the same river.”¹

We see that the concept of change has been at our forethought since the earliest understandings of philosophic thought and studies. We have long attempted to understand change, why it truly is one of the only “constants,” and why humans have difficulty handling change.²

To connect the philosophy with the spirituality of our faith: we can unpack the work of God in our lives, and even more in-depth how it impacts the living of our faith. We come to recognize the work that God is doing within us. This is often vocalized through the beautiful metaphor of God as the Potter from Isaiah 64:8.

“Yet, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.”³

The question we can ask then is: “When is God finished molding and shaping us?”

The answer: “NEVER”

If we are truthful with ourselves, the work of God is always taking place in our lives. In the United Methodist tradition we call this “sanctification.” This is the idea that we are continually formed, shaped, and perfected by God’s grace. We are molded day-by-day to more reflect the image of God we were created in.

This is a beautiful image of how we live our lives, because it overlays this philosophical idea that change is constant over the way we grow to live more fully into God’s grace each and every day. We spend each day in reflection of how we have grown and what work there still is to do. Should we ever think ourselves foolhardy enough that we need not change, I believe we limit the capacity for our experience of grace.

However, we must not change sheerly for change sake. We must do so with intention according to God’s purpose and vision. It takes reflection on where we have been, what we have done, what has worked in glorifying God, and how can we grow from that to continue that work.

This is a process we seek as a a body focused on Christ’s promise of salvation. When we think about how we have lived our faith out, we have the opportunity to ponder on the molding God is doing within us. We look at what has happened and we reflect on what went well and what can be improved. This helps us recognize how we can further live into God’s image. We do not think because something went off really well that it now becomes the “embodiment of perfection” here on earth. Rather we continue to progress forward in our faith, knowing God may call us to new, bold, and radical things that build off the journey we are on.

There is a psychological reason we are afraid of change, and it stems from this comfort in the known. However, to forsake change and growth limits God’s working of grace in our lives. Complacency in life tells us we are perfect as is, we don’t need to grow anymore, and therefore, we have no more need for God’s grace.

As we look at the landscape of our faith, we can find ways to continue to live, work, and express our faith as a way of responding to God’s grace. Sometimes this means stepping out of our comfort zone to try something new. Sometimes this means doing something new in spite of the fears of possible failure. Sometimes it means going into the unknown and trusting God’s grace and peace as we go.

No matter what we know God is never done with us, and always working on us. We can approach life and all our activities with this mindset, knowing the work is never done. There are always more ways to grow.

AMEN!!!

1. This is an oft-used quote that is credited to the Ancient (Pre-Socratic) Philosopher Heraclitus. This idea is preserved in the only known writing we have from Heraclitus and within Plato’s writing Cratylus: (Cite: Plato, Cratylus. https://www.gutenberg.org/files/1616/1616-h/1616-h.htm)

2. You can check out more on this topic of change by reading a post that

Lindsay Geist

and I co-wrote in May of 2023 in a series on pastoral transitions. Click Here to Read

3. Isaiah 64:8 - New Revised Standard Version