Sandpaper Situations

By Missey Butler
Guest Writer

CBN.com -- Have you ever noticed how certain people have the distinct ability of grating you to the point of sheer exasperation?

You find yourself entertaining thoughts like, If only that person would just re-locate to another part of the country… or better yet, another planet… or better still, another galaxy!

You fantasize about a huge suction cup falling down from the sky, attaching itself to the head of that person and removing them forever from your view. Yep, that’s exactly what I need—out of sight, out of mind! If only that would happen, you think to yourself. Then my life would be PERFECT!

Now, you have to admit, we’ve all been there, right? If I could just “tweak” this situation, or if I could just remove the second cousin who was already supposed to have been “once removed” anyway… and on and on it goes.

I have learned that more than likely the reason these darlings have entered into my life is because of my own distorted imaginations, not to mention my crummy attitude, or the obvious fact that I’m in desperate need of a complete heart, mind, and soul overhaul!

So, needless to say, I found myself being placed back on God’s workbench while He rigorously sanded and smoothed out the rough edges by allowing some rather un-welcomed circumstances to unfold.

Never mind the fact that the majority of these situations had been brought on by my own making. The vice grips of the Holy Spirit had held me still long enough for me to see that I had allowed resentment, pride, and even that green-eyed monster, jealousy, back into my life, and I was in serious need of God’s refinishing process.

Like the oyster who accepts the irritation of a tiny speck of sand. It undergoes years and years of slow agitation, over and over, until one day it proudly opens up to display the beauty of a flawless pearl.

So now, thanks to my wonderful Heavenly carpenter, I can embrace the sanding process and know that He is simply restoring me into a one-of-a-kind masterpiece, an image of perfection “showcased” eternally for all the world to see!

These have come so that your faith—of greater value than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ if revealed.

1 Peter 1:7

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