…Dust to Dust

I have a quirky little habit. (Okay, one of many!) I like to run my finger along the furniture—not to judge, but to do my own version of a “dust inspection.” It’s my personal way of keeping tabs on the house. Sometimes I pass with flying colors, and other times… well, let’s just say the dust cloth and I get reacquainted!

Today, during one such test, I paused. I held my finger up to the light, staring at the dust. And a thought hit me: That’s me. Yep, me—just a collection of dust, gathered, shaped, and—poof!—human. I am literally walking, talking dust.

I wonder what beings from other realms (I refuse to say “aliens”; it just feels wrong) would think of us. Would they look at us and say, Wow, priceless dust!? Would they shake their heads in confusion at how these fragile, finite little dust particles are somehow allowed into the audience chamber of the Most High God?

If I could talk to them, I’d say, “Oh, creature of another realm, not only do we have an audience with the Almighty, but this dust you see? It’s the very substance God uses to work His best miracles.”

Yes, friends, I may be dust—but I’m the kind of dust that, when placed in the right hands, becomes something extraordinary. Lest we forget Genesis 1: God formed His crowning work of creation—humanity—out of dust and breathed life into us. Did you catch that? Crowning work of creation. A proud moment for dust!

And here’s the kicker: Even after sin messed everything up, Jesus still cared about the dust. This little speck of grimy, free-floating, undeserving dust means everything to Him.

Because when Jesus adds His touch to dust, something miraculous happens.

Think about it—when a blind man needed healing, Jesus didn’t just say the word. He mixed dust with His own spit (yes, holy saliva!) and made clay to restore sight (John 9:6). Dust plus Jesus equals transformation.

And that’s exactly what happens when we surrender our dust—the dust of our brokenness, failures, and flaws—to Him. He shapes us, molds us, and makes us new.

Psalm 51:17 says:

“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart—these, O God, You will not despise.”

You might think, What does this verse have to do with dust? Oh, but look deeper. The word “contrite” in Hebrew (dâkâh) means “to crumble, to crush to powder, to dust.”

There it is. Dust.

So today, I offer up my dust—my broken, imperfect, crumbling heart—to the Master Potter. Because in His hands, dust isn’t just dust. It’s the material for His greatest masterpieces.

And surrendered dust? That is priceless.

So what about you, friend?

What dusty parts of your life need surrendering today? The broken dreams? The hidden hurt? The silent struggles?

Place them in the hands of the Master Potter—He still makes masterpieces out of dust.

– Xoxo – Merry Melodious Dust-