Understand Jeremiah 18:5-6 (EASY)

Jeremiah 18:5-6 (EASY) [5] Then the Lord told me his message. [6] He said, ‘I tell you this. I can do to you, nation of Israel, the same thing that this potter does with his clay. I hold you in my hands, as the potter holds the clay in his hands.'

Tonight, I am lying in bed trying to get some work done. I started feeling overwhelmed and anxious. I searched my thoughts, but no particular reason points to these negative emotions. Then I remembered my dream: I was back in high school. Those dreams are the worst! I always remember that I completed Grade 12, but I just can't wrap my head around why I am back there—and this time, I’m failing my subjects.

​I have heard people refer to this as a "spirit of backwardness," but personally, I think this is how our Heavenly Father says I am not learning what I should be learning in this season. I was well aware of what He was talking about, but this "new thing" I am learning is quite daunting. I believe in "doing it afraid," but this time it just wasn't working. 

My eyes were giving me issues because I was sleeping in the late mornings or early afternoons, not to mention the strain caused by the blue light from the laptop. Working throughout the night on a computer isn't child's play, but the main challenge was how my head felt. It was like my brain was being stretched beyond its natural capacity. God has some real jokes when it comes to His plans for me.

​I felt fear—fear of this computer program. I am a full-time mom and life coach; what do I know about computer programming except how to turn it on and use Google? Now, this Father in heaven is starting with His "pranks" again. I found blue light glasses (the Holy Spirit is always 10 steps ahead), so my excuse was that I would resume my studies once I got the glasses. Then the dream happened. Clearly, Daddy thinks I am being a baby about my eyes and lack of sleep. I mean, what about my brain that feels like it’s exploding because He is pushing it beyond who I thought I was?

​I am brave, but I’m a coward when it comes to challenging God. Have you seen His shoe size? Imagine if He stamped on me! The Grade 12 dream was telling me that I am failing to do what He said. My goodness—over the past two weeks, I’ve slept at 10 AM or 2 PM, and clearly, that didn't count for anything. On top of that, I was ill. I didn't know what was wrong for two days until I started coughing. These "little people" (my kids) gave me a contaminated kiss, and it started with everything but the actual cough.

​So, back to this moment. I am sitting on my "bed-office" at 3 AM. Don't worry, it's still early for bedtime! The booking app I use is doing something strange on this website I am instructed to build. In case you can't see me, I am rolling my eyes—but trying to pretend I'm not rolling them at God. The Holy Spirit just closed His eyes because He is my Helper and He gets it; He’s not "witnessing" this one. As I am working on this, I notice the AI tool I am using keeps referring to me as an "Author."

Now my eyes are about to fall out from the way I am rolling them. I mean, seriously?

​I am still feeling sick from the flu, I’m scared witless because of the dream, and now Daddy God is adding "Author" to the list. What am I supposed to write? Oh! The website has a section for blogging. Don't ask me how it got there. I haven't blogged for months because our dearest Father stopped me. I remember someone once said to me that I never finish anything I start. Lol, they need to talk to God about that!

​So, back to the heavy feeling. I began wondering what evoked these emotions again, so I started journaling to release whatever this was. I remembered my dream and started asking for forgiveness for my disobedience, but at this point, I was feeling like a victim. I know nothing about programming, my eyes hurt, I have no routine, I am sick... It was just a lot. I was feeling empty, lonely, and depressed for "no reason."

​Then the Holy Spirit whispered—He was trying to help me out: "You are clay."

​What? I knew exactly what He was referring to, but I had never questioned being clay before. How do I truly challenge a Potter with such a mighty hand? He would probably crush me like this coding is crushing my brain.

​People say they don't fear God, but they fear being separated from His love. For me, I know I can't be separated from His love, so my fear is His size, His power, and His might. I mean, this is the God who made the sharks look at hundreds of thousands of people crossing the sea and they couldn't even eat them! How do I challenge that? This is the God who made a deal with Satan just because He could, and Job was the one who had to be the pawn in their chess game—not even a knight! He told Ezekiel to cook with human poop! So, if you don't get it by now, I am trying to avoid those situations. I know He can still choose that path, but I don't want Him to be "intrigued" by my disobedience.

​So, Jeremiah spoke to me and said: "Bonolo, the Lord told me this message. He said, ‘I should tell you this: He can do to you, Bonolo Nevondo, the same thing that this potter does with his clay. He holds you in His hands, as the potter holds the clay in His hands.’"

​If you don't get it yet, Jeremiah was simply telling me to get out of my victim mindset. He was reminding me that I should never forget that I am clay in God's hands. The Holy Spirit knew that Jeremiah would help me snap out of this flesh-driven behavior.

​• God can make me start anything without prior experience or anyone's help.

• ​The Lord can make me start blogging and stop me at any time.

​• The Majestic King can make me stay up for any amount of hours and sleep when He wills.

​• The Sovereign Lord can allow a "contaminated kiss" to touch my lips.

• ​The King of the Heavenly Hosts can push my brain as far as He wills, and all I have to do is be clay and allow Him. Not with a bad attitude, but a good one.

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Now, beloveds, many of you fail to understand this scripture. We believe we are clay in our own hands and don't realize that being a creation didn't begin with our choice, but our Heavenly Father’s plans. There are many things I don't like, but because they are happening, it means He wills them.

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Do you have a victim mindset and stay in it for days or months? That is pure disobedience and a lack of honor for God. It signifies that our emotions are more important than His plans. Only He knows our A to Z. Sometimes He reveals "D" to you, but don't be fooled into thinking you know what ought to be.

​If you can't quite relate to being clay, see yourself as the device you are using to read this. It responds to your request no matter the battery level, the hour, or the duration you have been on it. That's because it belongs to you. You belong to God, and He created you according to His desires. Don't tell Him what your function is. Imagine your mobile phone saying it's a cup or a picture frame and refusing to do what you bought it for.

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No matter how hard, daunting, depressing, scary, or confusing your state is, never forget that you are in God's hands. And His hands can do whatever He wills with you. He can push you, He can stop you, He can challenge you... He can.

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Next time you feel any negative emotion, listen to Jeremiah.

​I bless you all in Jesus' name. Amen.