After weeks of rain, last week produced wonderfully mild temperatures and gorgeous days! Now settled into the new home and rested from the intensity of the move, it was time to embark on the adventure of mapping out my new route to walk, and eventually run. Thank goodness for maps on my phone – this subdivision is quite large and with my inability to naturally navigate, I could have been lost for days without it! I decided on an easy loop that will provide enough distance to begin again, slowly getting back to a regular routine after months of sporadic efforts.
I was a bit over-zealous on day one of this new course, but having given my legs quite the workout during our move I fell into a familiar rhythm and delighted in the beauty of the day. Day two was even better, cutting a couple of minutes from my finished time. By day three, I imagined with every move of my slightly sore muscles that they were quickly becoming very toned underneath this layer I hope to shed. It felt good to move and good to be sore, indications that my muscles are becoming stronger even if unseen by the human eye.
As I dreamed of a fit body with muscles clearly defined, the word “chiseled” came to mind. I laughed at the thought of that particular word every being applied to my appearance again, but it had come up in Tuesday morning bible study as we’ve been looking at wisdom:
When swelling and pride come, then emptiness and shame come also, but with the humble – those who are lowly, who have been pruned or chiseled by trial, and renounce self – are skillful and godly Wisdom and soundness. Proverbs 11:2
Trials come to us all. How we respond to them is our choice. But no matter what we choose – whether we seek to find the good and embrace the hardships with hope, or we rebel and resist and fight – the chisel is at work. It is chipping and carving and cutting and will reveal a finished work. For those who fight, this tool of trials carves the hardship into the soul as if it can never be forgotten, a constant reminder of pain. But for those who yield to the chisel in the Master’s hand, their form changes with every cut, the details and definition of His likeness lovingly revealed in the masterpiece He had in mind. Wisdom is humbling ourselves before a God Who is so much more than we can comprehend. A God so good that we can trust Him with the difficulties of this life, confident that He is working something beautiful that is yet to be seen.
While I cannot see all the muscles that are shaping up, gaining strength and definition, I am confident this work is taking place every time I work out. In the same way, I take confidence in the fact that God is working even in the trials, or perhaps especially in the trials. You may not be able to see it yet, but with every faith step I take His chisel at work making me what I ought to be.
The post “Chiseled by trial” was written by Kay Stinnett and first appeared on http://www.ourpassionatepurpose.com
Our Passionate Purpose 