Several years ago, we purchased a new home so that my parents, who were missionaries in
Mexico, could come and live with us during their golden years. While we were thrilled with the house, as soon as we moved in we realized that we had a problem. We didn’t have nearly enough furniture! My husband, of course, didn't mind this one bit. However, I would prefer my guests have somewhere to sit when they visit!
So, off to the furniture stores we went, hand
in hand, to face the vast world of cherry, mahogany, oak and pine. We started off with
Ethan Allen dreams and ended up right on target. Oops! Did I say “on target”? I meant “in Target!" I don’t know if you’ve been furniture shopping lately, but let’s face it. Furniture is expensive, and unfortunately, I have Haverty’s
taste with an Ikea budget! Nonetheless, on this particular day of furniture shopping, I decided to dream a little...
As
we began to navigate our way through the sea of Mission, French Provincial, Old
World, Modern and Traditional styles, I found that I just couldn’t decide. They were all beautiful. I tried to find any differences in
quality: I looked at the type of wood,
the dovetail joints, the finishes, hardware, etc., but all I could find were differences
in style. They were all unique –
designed by the carpenter to be beautiful, each piece in its own way.
There
was one particular piece, however, that really caught my eye. It was crafted with dark, aged wood, inlaid
with punched tin. The hardware looked
weathered, and the wood itself looked like it had taken quite a beating. I
studied this piece, with its mars and imperfections, and found that it seemed
to me the most beautiful piece of all. I
found it ironic that a carpenter can take a piece of seemingly perfect wood and
“distress it” to make it more beautiful.
So many times we walk through life feeling like we've been beaten. The bangs, bruises and distress cause us to get discouraged because we don’t understand why the Lord would allow us to go through these things. Sometimes we feel like we want to give up. Sometimes we wonder if it's worth it.
In 2 Corinthians 11 and 12, Paul expressed his "distressing" experiences as an apostle and follower of Christ. He says, "I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not. I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm. Then,
besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches…So
to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger
from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. Three
different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, ‘My grace
is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’ So now I am glad to boast
about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s
why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships,
persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I
am strong.”
Did you catch that? Paul said he took pleasure in his weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that he suffered! If we’re honest with one another, I think we’d all admit that would be pretty difficult to do. An ordinary person would probably want to give up. But thank God, you are not an ordinary person! Just like the Apostle Paul, the power of the Holy Spirit enables you to endure extraordinary circumstances and do extraordinary things as a result! Even after all that Paul had gone through, he realized that, through his weakness, God was able to show His strength. When you allow God to use your trials and weaknesses for His glory, He can do the same through you!
The bible says in 2 Samuel 22:7, “But in my distress I cried out to the LORD; yes, I cried to my God for help. He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry reached his ears.” Friends, if you are in distress today or if you feel like you’ve been a little bruised and battered lately, take heart! The Lord hears your cries! Just remember that the Carpenter is at work! Trust in Him, and the end result will be a beautiful, well-seasoned work of perfection that will glorify our Father!
The Next Step:
- Read 2 Corinthians 11:16-12:10, New Living Translation
- Read 2 Samuel 22:7, New Living Translation
