These are moments that try men’s souls!
Ever have “One of those Days”? You’ve been working on a very important document all morning and right before you “save” it, your computer suddenly shuts down. You’ve Just Lost Everything!!! How about that trip to the store for much needed items. When you get to the cashier, you reach for your wallet, and it isn’t there. You’ve left it 20 minutes behind on the kitchen island. So, what do you do?
If you’re like most, you want to Swear or Throw something. But instead, you start over. These are the Moments that try our souls, aren’t they? Let’s backtrack a bit. How did the day start? Did you sleep well? I know hindsight is 20/20, but often, if we haven’t slept well, everything that comes after seems like a Plot against us. Did you begin the day with God? Did you read His Word, spend time being open and honest with Him in Prayer? He may be trying to get your attention and reminding you that “without Him, you can do nothing”!
In the Grand Scheme of Things, the only thing that matters during times like these is the condition of our hearts. God “will” bring Trials and Temptations our way. We are guaranteed it! We have a Father that is more interested in our character than anything else. His job is to make you as much like Jesus as He can. You’ve sung the Song “Have Thine Own Way Lord”? What does it remind us of? “Thou art the Potter, I am the clay”. Now we all know that the “Clay” doesn’t feel anything; but imagine if it could!
He may be trying to get your attention and reminding you that “without Him, you can do nothing”!
Paul tells us in Ephesians 2:10 “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” The word used for “workmanship” in the greek is ποίημα, or poiema. It’s where we get the word Poem from. Literally it means, Masterpiece. You are His Masterpiece. He is molding and shaping you to become more like Jesus. That is His plan. That is why He saved you. Every one of God’s children will go through this process. Peter tells us not to “be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you…as though some strange thing were happening to you”. It is our God, spinning us on His Wheel, molding and shaping us into the image of Christ!
