Author Archives: Elizabeth Sulungaine

At times being God’s son or daughter may seem painful. It may seem like we are breaking. God is the Potter, and we are the clay (Jeremiah 18:6). God has a way of getting our attention and letting us know where we need to change, with Scripture. “My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body” (Proverbs 4:20-22). Scripture is God’s word, some of it feels good to hear and some of it very difficult to carry out, and all of it is for us to be growing as Christians.

I may resist, thinking I am protecting my heart by not allowing a change. But when I have stepped out in faith, trusting that God knows what is best for me, my life has been freed. The situations to which I am referring to are times when I have asked for forgiveness from someone for my response to them, even if they have not asked me to forgive them for the pain they caused me. I have sometimes withheld responses because of pain someone has caused me, also needing to apologize. In Proverbs 4:23 “guard your heart” is an active, not a passive command. The verbs used in verses 24-27 include “fix your gaze” “be steadfast” “do not turn to the right or the left” “free of perversity”.

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right of the left; keep your foot from evil” Proverbs 4:23-27

Start thinking about who God is shaping you to be. You are being made into a unique person, able to reflect God’s image in a way that no one else can…

A clay pot doesn’t get made without the potter cutting away unneeded pieces, flattening some areas, carving defining lines in it.

Share your response below, or message me if you would like, at joysulungaine@gmail.com. I would love to hear your thoughts and experiences, as well.

The audience of this blog is geared specifically toward Caucasians like myself, who believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior. I am writing out of my family’s experiences living in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where my husband, my children, and I are of different skin tones, though we identify ourselves first as Christians.

The clay pot is a wonderful metaphor that God uses in Scripture to bring us to a better relationship with Him and other people. I have never worked with pottery, neither am I knowledgeable on the history of the church, or an expert in cross cultural studies. As we seek to understand the perspective coming from our brothers and sisters different skin tones than ours, I want to share my own thoughts and experiences as I have made many mistakes and hope that others can learn from them.

A year ago I would have agreed with anyone who said we shouldn’t have to think about skin color as long as we are thinking of everyone as equal through a “color blind” perspective. However, God has made us intricately and thoughtfully as well as creating us equal in importance, see Galatians 3:28 and Psalm 139.

Also, America has not started us off on an equal trajectory. As Americans now, living in the 21’st century, we have the responsibility make relationships and laws where all humans are worthy of equal citizenship and respect. We grieve the history of our country in excluding people’s rights and dignity based on color of their skin. In Nehemiah chapter 1, Nehemiah grieved for the sins of all of his people, though he may not have committed the sins personally. God told Nehemiah “‘But if you return to me and obey my commands and live by them, then even if you are exiled to the ends of the earth, I will bring you back to the place I have chosen for my name to be honored’” (verse 9).

My perspective is is influenced by my family and friends, conversations with Being the Bridge, books Color of Compromise and How to Fight Racism by Jemar Tisby, but the most insight is gleaned from the Bible. Feel free to message joysulungaime@gmail.com or leave a comment, I would love to hear your perspective as well.