We are the clay

Today I read Isaiah 62:7-65:25 and 2 Thessalonians 2:14-3:18. My favorite verses are:

Isaiah 64:8 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.

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, 17 Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.

God made us; God loved us; God gave us consolation, hope, grace, and comfort; God established us when our words and work were good. All that we are, all that we have, and all that we do comes from God our Father. He makes us what He wants us to be and blesses us when we fulfill His plan for our lives. If we choose to go our own way rather than His, there are consequences. It isn’t always something He does to us, but rather what he withholds from us. Life without consolation, hope, grace, and comfort is miserable—I know from experience. Being out of the will of God is the most unhappy existence possible. There may be times of happiness, but they are fleeting; there is no depth of joy as there is when we are in God’s will. Consider your life right now—are you mostly happy or mostly miserable? If the balance is not what you want it to be, seek God’s will for your life and let him restore the joy of your salvation. He is waiting to bless you.