Jars of Clay - To Smash or Not to Smash?

Clay and jars of clay is a reoccurring theme in Scripture. Clay jars are used to represent our human bodies, or more specifically, our very frail human bodies that are completely dependent upon the Sovereign Hand of God who formed us. Whether God decides to smash us or not to smash us is completely dependent upon His mercy as Jeremiah 19 shows us. But, as Paul shows us in Romans and 2 Corinthians, there is motive behind God's decision in the smashing!