Tumbling Stones

Posted on September 14, 2018 by America's Keswick in Victory Call

“Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up. You will increase my honor and comfort me once again. Psalm 71:20-21 NIV

My sister and brother-in-law ran a business for many years making small metal pins for use in machinery and other applications. Bob’s father had developed and patented a technique for smoothing the pins, which was an essential part of the manufacturing process. Any roughness on the pins would interfere with their function, so it was necessary to have them as smooth as possible.  The pins were placed into a machine that had small rocks in it. The pins and rocks would be tumbled until all the jagged edges and rough places were completely ground down. The pins could then be shipped to the manufacturing company that had ordered them.

If the pins had feelings, you can imagine that they would not be too comfortable during the tumbling experience. For many hours they were tossed around,  banging and bumping against the hard, unyielding rocks, over and over again. You can imagine them complaining, “Enough already! I was fine the way I was. I don’t need to be smoothed. This hurts! Just leave me alone!” Or perhaps they would be saying, “What did I do to deserve this torture? Does the person who made me hate me?” But the end result was a useful object as smooth as glass.

Have you ever felt as if your Maker doesn’t care or is punishing you as you go through storm after storm in life? Does it seem as if He is trying to destroy you and everything you care about? And yet we are told that He is a loving Father who cares about you so much. It can be difficult to look at our hardships with clear understanding. We may never know on this side of Heaven what the purpose of our trials is, but rest assured, there is a purpose. Father allows difficult times to “crowd us to Christ.” He allows trials to smooth the rough edges of our life and conform our character to the image of His Son. Does it feel good? No! But we can trust His loving hands to gently mold us with the skill of an artist and the passion of a father.

I love the message of the song Blessings by Laura Story. The chorus says:

“What if our blessings come through raindrops, What if our healing comes through tears, What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You’re near, What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise?”

Trials and pain can either mold us into the women of God that He so desires us to be or they can make us bitter and depressed. The key to peace and joy in the midst of trials is to keep our focus on Father, not on our circumstances, and to thank Him for His work in our lives, especially when it hurts.

Written by Cherri Raws Freeman: Cherri Raws Freeman is the author of the book Beside Still Waters: Discovering Peace in the Midst of Your Child’s Addiction. She and her husband Joe, a graduate of the Colony of Mercy, founded Love Them to Life, a support ministry for mothers of addicts. Cherri is  a graduate of Wheaton College and the mother of 5 adult children, 2 of which struggled with addiction issues.

The Daily Bible Reading: Daniel 1-3| You can download our 2018 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Daily Quote: “Do not grudge the Hand that is molding the still too shapeless image within you. It is growing more beautiful, though you see it not, and every touch of temptation may add to its perfection.” – Henry Drummond

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: Do you see a man hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him. — Proverbs 29:20