1 Hear my cry, O God listen to my prayer. 2 From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. Psalm 61:1-2
As time goes by while we serve God, we walk through periods of trials. These trials that are allowed and used by God to mold us and fasten us into the perfect specimen that God is purposing us to be. Just like when a diamond is first hewed out of a wall of rock, it is not what is seen in the moment by the miner that is enticing, but rather what he sees is the potential for a beautiful finished product. The raw diamond is transferred from the miner to a person who works with precious stones and gems to refine it. The refining process includes being cut and struck and faceted which is painful and bloody if that stone were a person. So it is with everyone who comes to God. When we come to Him we are raw, polluted, unpolished and dull. What He does to our life through His perfect ways is to cut out the things that stop us from shining. He strikes and facets parts of our lives that seem at the time when its happening too be cruel and unimaginable but He in His infinite wisdom knows the end from the beginning.
Isaiah 45:9 tells us, “Woe to the one who quarrels with his Maker– An earthenware vessel among the vessels of earth! Will the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you doing?’ Or the thing you are making say, ‘He has no hands ‘?”
When we are being trimmed by God, we have the tendency to counsel God on how He should do things as if we have the answer. The safest place to be while our process of polishing is taking place is the place of humility. Humility says “God I don’t understand and it hurts, but I trust You!” This is where David saw himself in Psalm 61. The one thing David asked of God was to lead him to the Rock that was higher than he. During the time of testing, we need to be lead by hand to the Rock, Jesus, which is higher than us. We need to always keep in mind that while the Father is working on us, that our comfort is in Jesus. He will see us through our necessary discipline which is for our own benefit. Hebrews 12:7-8 explains this,”Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as His children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? 8 If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all.”
What we know through God’s word is this, we all go through some terrible things in life. We can either view them as catastrophic or an opportunity to mature. It’s really in how we process our situation that can determine the outcome. View things from the side that God has you no matter what and not a sparrow falls to the ground without His consent. If He cares that much about the sparrow, how much more does He care for you?!
Cry out to the Rock while you are being polished. The Rock that is higher!
Pastor Michael Cannatello
lazarusministry.com
