I know it seems like two completely different topics, so okay, they are, but bear with me and maybe it will make sense.
I have been reading through “The Christian in Complete Armour” by William Gurnall. It is a daily reading type book so I can dwell on and attempt to digest a page or two of truths at a time…currently, I am reading about hope in hardship, especially when it seems that God is delaying His promises. The Scripture passage referred to is Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
After attempting to summarize, I decided to just quote Mr. Gurnall…
“God does not take up the ax of His sovereignty into His hand to make chips. When He has pruned severely and driven His ax the deepest, His people may expect some beautiful piece of work when all is finished.” The promise (of Romans 8:28) assures the believer that the heavenly Father intends no harm, only good, as He rebuilds the ruined frame of your soul into a glorious temple. And afflictions have a hand in the work. This insight frees you to pray, “Lord, cut and shape me however You will, that at last I may be framed according to the pattern which Your love has drawn for me!”…Hope quiets the Christians’s spirit when God waits a long time before He comes to perform promises…patience is the back where the Christian carries his burdens, and hope is the pillow between the back and the burden. Now patience has two shoulders, one to bear the present evil and another to wait for the future good promised but not yet paid. And as hope makes the burden of the present cross light, it makes the longest delay of promised good seem short.”
Knowing that our Lord does not sift and prune us haphazardly is so reassuring! He does not blindly chip away at us, yet He has the “beautiful piece of work” in mind every step of the way. Oh that I would be able say with confidence and complete readiness “Lord, cut and shape me however You will, that at last I may be framed according to the pattern which Your love has drawn for me!”
The Lord brought this to mind while E and I were cutting out paper snowflakes. We had done a little google research, but really, we were just enjoying cutting and seeing what turned out. It is so comforting to know that our Father takes tremendous care when He makes the necessary “cuts” in our lives.
Some of our snowflake creations….we found a great link to some photographs of God’s snowflakes here
simplymallory 