Sometimes without even realizing it, we are our own potters. We form and shape ourselves as we see fit. We want to look a certain way, so we mold ourself into that image. We have certain expectations, so we strive to meet them.
Who would not want to look like the spiritual equivalent of this body builder? Pastor Bernie anyone? Who needs the armor of God with this body, right? 
I started my first year with the clear goal of equipping myself for ministry. The body I wanted to build was going to be a supercharged weapon of mass destruction. Destruction in the name of Jesus. Boy, was I ever wrong.
I’m sure all of you walk into the internship with God goals and visions. You recognize there is a bigger plan for your life. You recognize that God fully intends to use you to impact this world for Jesus. Keep that vision close to your heart, but don’t let it be your end goal.
I struggled with God for the first year on this one. I had goals and expectations. When God wasn’t developing me in ways I had planned, I was pretty ticked off. You could use the word bitter. Frustrated. Discouraged. Annoyed. All of those would work.
Finally over the summer, it seemed like God lifted the scales off my eyes. To accomplish all that God has for me requires more than ministry know-how, gifts, talents, or abilities. It requires more than a spiritual body builder or even the vision itself. It requires something much deeper and harder to get at. The complete submission of your heart.
God will always break you in order to achieve his greater purpose.
A person who embraces this process acknowledges God’s loving discipline (Hebrews 12:6), God’s constant pruning (John 15:2), and God’s uncomfortable refining (Zechariah 13:9). Believe it or not, God’s getting you where you want to go. He wants you to accomplish your purpose and destiny just as much as you do.
Sometimes you just have to let God take you from self-made body builder to God-refined servant.
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