Shaping Our Lives

As we live each day we encounter various trials that we have to learn to deal with. As Christians, we understand that these trials will be before us and that they are a test for us individually, as we prove to ourselves and to God that we are able to overcome these trials and pressures of life. In James 1:2-4 it says "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” It is interesting to note that James tells us to count it “all joy” when we encounter these various trials and tribulations in life. Why joy? Because when we understand that these trials are tests of life and we do overcome them, then we can be joyful that we did so, knowing that as a result, we can someday have an eternal home with our heavenly Father.

Our Christian Walk Is Not Easy

When we are striving to walk in the paths of righteousness, obeying God’s will and not man’s, then it is certain that we will suffer persecution. “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12). Do you feel that you are suffering some type of persecution as you live your daily Christian life? If so, then you must be doing what God expects of you as a Christian. It is not easy to tell someone that you are with not to use that kind of language around you. It is not easy to tell one of your friends that you cannot go to that movie because there is bad language, nudity, and other things portrayed therein that God would not approve of. When we take a stand for Jesus in ALL things that we do, then we WILL suffer some type of persecution in our life.

A beloved sister in Christ, Ellen Kyle, wrote a beautiful poem that goes along with this thought of shaping our lives. It is entitled “The Stone Cutter”.

THE STONE CUTTER

I watched a stone cutter as he worked with great care,

He was cutting and shaping a stone so fair.

I looked but I couldn’t see where it would go,

Finally I stopped him and told him so.

He pointed to a spot on a building so high,

That it almost seemed to touch the sky.

With the blows and cuts to the stone so fair,

I’m shaping it down here so it fits up there.

As I stood there and thought about what he had said,

A truth in my life took shape in my head.

I started to tremble as tears filled my eyes,

For I was beginning to realize,

The trials in my life that have hurt me so bad,

The things that trouble me and make me feel sad,

Are the blows that a heart of stone must receive.

And it’s through these struggles that God shapes my will,

And if I only let him, my well of strength He’ll fill.

So I try now to remember when trials are everywhere,

God is shaping me down here so I’ll fit up there.

---Ellen Kyle

Allowing God To Shape Our Life

When we allow God to shape our lives then we can have joy knowing that when the end comes we will be able to “fit up there” with Him in heaven. Christians should be the happiest people on earth. Christians fully understand that those trials, tribulations, and persecutions will be there, and KNOW that if we will be patient and let God direct our steps (Jeremiah 10:23), then we will be rewarded for our steadfastness. Have you allowed God to shape your life? If not, won’t you now be determined to live for him each day, allowing God to shape your life into an individual that will not be afraid to deal with life’s trials so that in the end you will “fit up there” in heaven above!