Rock

My husband purchased a Rock Tumbler machine as a gift for me this past Christmas.  Since I’ve been in a crafty sort of phase, I knew I had to have one of these.  The rock tumbler set comes with an electric base, and a container where you place your rocks, shells and even broken pieces of glass.  You add both the package of refining grit, water and your rocks of choice to the container.  Then you seal it,  setting the number of days recommended, and voila! –  the machine does all the work. The results are amazing!

I’m on my fourth level of refining for the glass that I added, which originally was a wine bottle.  With each process using the different coarseness of grits, the rock tumbler continues to smooth the rough edges of glass, turning them into little masterpieces, taking on a new form and beauty through each process.  All the rough edges are gone!  How easy would it be if God could work his magic in a similar fashion in us?  But during our lifetime, isn’t He doing that exact thing?

You must admit, if you were in that rock tumbler, (which I’m sure we all of have felt) it would be pretty painful.   So many times during our lives we pray for relief from the many tumbles that come our way.  We’re begging someone to just turn that “machine” off and stop the wheel from turning.  I look back on so many of those times, some more painful than others, which I’m sure you can do the same.  But look at you now! 

You may still not feel your sharp edges are smooth enough and perhaps there is room for even more progress.  The hardest part is trusting that Jesus has a plan.  He says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.  As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”  So, let’s try and stop doubting those times when Jesus is refining us into better Christians, better people.  There is no answer for why we all go through all our seasons of pain, but I pray that we can trust in the ultimate Rock Tumbler to turn us into the shiny smooth jewels that sparkle before His eyes. 

Especially during this period of Lent, when we are focusing on Jesus’ walk to the Cross, let’s reflect on His willingness and ultimate sacrifice that He made so that all our rough edges would be smooth.  We are rocks now turned into His beautiful jewels along our own journey.  Never forget He is always walking with us!

“Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness and who seek the Lord: Look to the rock from which you were cut and to the quarry from which you were hewn.”  Isaiah 51:1