The Potter's Design

But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use?

Romans 9:20-21 ESV

The Lord gave me a revelation about this in my life today. I have been working incredibly hard to figure myself out, but to no avail. The revelation was this: you are trying to dictate your design. Stop trying to dictate your design. I am the potter and I get to decide what your design is, not you. You do not determine what I have created you to be. You just need to be it. Don't compare your design to someone else's. I made them to be that. I made you to be you and I need you to serve in the function I created you for. 

God's design for me is a good design. It doesn't need to meet my finite-minded standard of what a good vessel is. God knows what He's doing. He doesn't need my input. This was hard to see. I'm so informed by my intellect and current understanding of the scriptures, that I can overthink and miss the obvious. The question Paul poses is a simple one. Doesn't the Lord get to decide what He's making with His clay?

Of course He does! And while He's happy to hear from me because I am His child, He doesn't need me to tell Him how to mold me. And He doesn't need me to tell Him what my use should be. So whether I'm ornate for display or plain to hold kitchen scraps, my design is good, just as He intended.