Surprisingly Sacred
TARA HACKNEY
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“Yet you, LORD, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.” Isaiah 64:8 (NIV)
The brilliance and creativity of the potter were on full display in the large shop window. Pieces in every shape, size and color imaginable filled the heavy shelves. Some were tall, others short. Some were finely painted, others rough. Some were made for obvious purposes, others for more elusive ones.
Curious, I entered the cozy and inviting shop. Chunky mugs hung on hooks, and daisies in clay jars dotted the room. An antique-looking potter’s wheel sat discreetly in the back corner along with two distressed wooden chairs. Sketches on weathered paper covered the walls.
A surprisingly elaborate sketch caught my eye and beckoned me to come closer. Measurements and notes filled the margins, and the maker’s seal was stamped into the corner. It occurred to me that I had never before considered the planning stages or how much thought and preparation went into each pottery piece.
A scripture fragment hidden in my heart long ago rose to the surface: “Yet you, LORD, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand” (Isaiah 64:8). My skin prickled as the sacred realization sank in, and the pottery shop seemed to come alive with meaning.
The sketch now conveyed something deeper — just like the pottery, I was planned, created on purpose and for a purpose. All of us were.
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10, NIV).
On that surprisingly sacred day, my thinking shifted. Seeing myself as an intentional creation of God humbled me and helped me understand on a deeper level who God is and who I am to Him. Seeing others as God’s handiwork made me want to be more patient and less rude, more kind and less judgmental, more delighted by the talents of others and less threatened by them.
I also saw the diversity in the world with fresh eyes. Like the display in the window pointed to the potter’s brilliance and creativity, I could now see the pots in every color, shape and size pointing to the vast array of humanity that fills the world with splendor. I could almost feel the walls of separation begin to tumble down, and suddenly, the world seemed lovelier. We are all made to point to something greater than ourselves — the brilliance and creativity of the Potter.
Dear God, I praise You because I’m the work of Your hands. It humbles me to realize You designed me, created me for a purpose, and have a good plan for my life. Help me to remember this truth applies to other people as well. It takes billions of us — all unique — to display the splendor of Your grand design. Thank You for making me a part of it. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
OUR FAVORITE THINGS
To help the children in your life learn that they were made on purpose and for a purpose by a God who loves them, grab a copy of Tara Hackney’s book Jesus Loves the Little Children, All the Children of the World or a Made and Loved So Perfectly baby item from her shop.
ENGAGE
Tara is the founder of Jesus Loves, a ministry of encouragement dedicated to recapturing the wonder, exploring the depth, and spreading the good news of the world’s greatest love. To learn more or connect with Tara, visit jesusloves.org or follow her on Instagram.
Enter to WIN your very own copy of Jesus Loves the Little Children, All the Children of the World by Tara Hackney. To celebrate this book, Tara’s publisher will give away 5 copies! Enter to win by filling out the form here. {We’ll randomly select 5 winners and notify them via email by Monday, June 2, 2025.}
FOR DEEPER STUDY
Psalm 139:13-14, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well” (NIV).
Isaiah 60:21b, “They are … the work of my hands, for the display of my splendor” (NIV).
Have you ever considered that you were intentionally created on purpose and for a purpose by a God who loves you? How does that change the way you feel about God? About yourself? About others? Share your thoughts in the comments.
© 2025 by Tara Hackney. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries
P.O. Box 3189
Matthews, NC 28106
www.Proverbs31.org
