A number of years ago a Christian blacksmith, whose life was full of suffering and pain, was challenged by an unbeliever to account for all the suffering God had allowed in his life. His response to the challenge went something like this:
"As a blacksmith, I often take a piece of iron and put it into the fire to bring it to a white heat. Then I put it on the anvil an strike it hard a few times to see if it can be tempered. If I think it can, i plunge it into cold water, suddenly changing the temperature.
I repeat this heating and quenching process several times. Then I put the iron on the anvil and ham mer it and bend it. After it cools, I rasp it and file it, turning it into some useful article which will serve for many years. If, however, when I first strike it on the anvil, I see that it cannot be tempered, I throw it onto the scrap pile and sell it for a few pennies.
I believe that God and Father has been testing me to see if I can be tempered. He has repeatedly put me into the fire and into the water. I have tried to bear it patiently and quietly, and my daily prayer has been: 'Lord, put me into the fire if You will. Put me into the water if You think I need it. Do anything you please, Lord - only don't throw me onto the scrap pile.'"
Do anything you please - just don't throw my in the scrap pile. Man, what a great analogy for our lives.
I know you're going through some stuff. But don't lose sight of the fact that you're being tested, tempered, hammered, quenched, rasped, and filed into something God can use for many years.
Keep the Faith and thanks for stopping by.
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