"What Were You Thinking, Lord?" (Part 1) Manage It (Victorious in Christ) Monday

Read "What Were You Thinking, Lord?" (Part 2).
What if a pot could say to the one forming it, "You're making a mess of things!"  What if a painting could jump off of the easel when it disagreed with the artist's choice of colors?  Preposterous, you say?  Do you ever feel tempted to say to God, your Maker, "What are You doing?!" Do questions arise in your heart, such as, "Why did You put me here in this family?" or "Why couldn't I have her abilities?"  (or her kids? or her looks?) Do you question the way God made you, the color of your hair, skin or eyes that He gave you, the country or region of the world that He placed you in, the ancestry He chose for you, the parents He gave you, or the time in history you've been born into? Do you question His decisions on these or any other "unchangeables" and complain, "Look what You've done!"  All through the Bible we see examples of God sovereignly communicating to His children, "I am God.  Trust Me.  I know what I am doing. When I made you the way I did and put you where you are, I had a plan."  Isaiah 64:8  "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."


We see the Principle of Design illustrated over and over again.  "The basis of self-acceptance is knowing who I am in Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:17) We should be grateful in our God-given circumstances."* 

¹⁴What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.

 ¹⁵For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

 ¹⁶So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

 ¹⁷For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.

 ¹⁸Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.

 ¹⁹Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?

 ²⁰Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?

 ²¹Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? Romans 9:14-21

 ⁹Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?
 ¹⁰Woe unto him that saith unto his father, What begettest thou? or to the woman, What hast thou brought forth?
 ¹¹Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me.  Isaiah 45:9-11


  ⁵Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:  ⁶I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee...
Isaiah 42:5-6


⁷Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.  Isaiah 43:7