“The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord; ‘Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will let you hear my words.’ So I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was working at his wheel. And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter’s hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do.” Jeremiah 18:1-4

When we consider the sovereignty of God, there is much mystery and wrestling with the unknown and what our minds cannot comprehend outside of divine revelation. Some may consider abortion to be part of God’s will, and if it wasn’t, it wouldn’t have happened. Is everything that happens God’s will? Where does free will play into that? These are age old questions that we will not seek to answer today. However, in His sovereignty, God will use our mistakes and sins and turn what was meant for evil for good if we allow Him.

Abortion was my decision, and with it all the consequences thereof. God says He fashioned all my days in His book. I believe He had a better plan for my life, even though knowing all, He knew every moment of my life and every choice and circumstance that would face me. Our wandering hearts often drift from His plan, “spoiling” His original design. Thankfully for us, God always has a plan. He is always ready with clay in hand to make us into a new creation, a new vessel, for His new intended purpose.

I can’t help but think that the day I choose abortion God already had a plan for what He would do with what I spoiled, already dreaming about the new vessel He would create when I surrendered to His hand.

This is the hope we all have. All sin in some way spoils the intended use of God’s chosen vessels. But when we surrender our messy clay back into His hand, trusting Him to work it into an image of His glory, a miracle of transformation transpires. This is His amazing, ongoing invitation, to take what was broken and make us new. His divine exchange.

Perhaps another way to picture it is like we have fallen into a pit, deep and impossible to climb out, thereby becoming a prison. But there is a door inside the pit, and all we have to do is open this door into freedom. This door is labeled “Forgiveness”. The simplicity of the gospel is why it is beautiful. And all that is needed in order for God to rework and reshape the clay that was spoiled is like that open door, to forgive and ask for forgiveness– an open invitation out of the pit into freedom.

The Way out is easy. The Way of Jesus is one of restoration, hope, transformation, making of all things new. This is His promise. If you have felt stuck in the pit because of the past sin of abortion or believed God could no longer use you as His vessel, take courage, He already has in mind the vessel to be reshaped into His new creation for His chosen purpose. Through His forgiveness, He leads us into freedom, remolding us for His purposes, as it seems good for Him to do.

Deeper Still is a ministry that offers free weekend healing retreats for women who have had abortions and the men who fathered children lost to abortion. If you have had an abortion and would like more information about our retreats, please go to www.DeeperStill.org to find a retreat close to you