Sandpaper People

What do you do when people are being stupid and they can’t see that they are a big part of their own problem?  I mean, it is clear to the rest of the world and they turn a blind eye to their own destructive behavior.  Is it as simple as throwing up your hands and praying for them? 

It is not like I know the answer and am trying to lead you into following me to it.  I have several situations involving loved ones that if they would simply listen and follow a plan, their whole problem could be solved.  Is it that easy?

Or maybe in the tension created by the situation, others like myself learn to further rely upon God.  While I’m praying for God to open their eyes to see clearly, take the scales off, and reveal what He has for them, the situation itself works like sandpaper to refine me.  It works on me and, instead of my reacting with anger accompanied by fear, I learn to trust Him more.

I give Him my worst case scenario and lay it at His feet, knowing I as a human being, aside from prayer, am powerless to do anything about it.  So the sandpaper takes over and does its work making me better in the long run.  I just rolled my eyes.  (In Holy reverence that is :)  Gosh, it would be so much easier on me to simply open their eyes but He never said this life would be easy.  On the contrary, He said, “You will have trouble.” 

John 16:33  “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world.”

So if this life was about easy, well, there would be no point to anything.  Imagine being so comfortable that you wouldn’t want to leave and go home to Heaven.  And if Heaven was just like your most comfortable day on earth that would be pretty anti-climatic.  Why would we want to have more of the same without greater things to look forward to?  So go ahead and continue to do your work on me, Lord, until the day of completion.

Philippians 1:6  “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

Make me better so I can represent you properly and authentically.  An oyster makes a pearl with an irritant, like a little piece of sand.  (Can you say sandpaper?)  I think that is how true godly character is developed.  Human methods are nice and “easier”.  But true change can only develop when you are out of alternatives.  Leaving you nothing except the tension of being backed into a corner with no way out except Jesus.  And He will make a way where there is no way.

There was an Indiana Jones movie, I don’t recall the name of it, where Harrison Ford is at a place where he is trapped.  He is as far as he can go in a rock formation and there is no way to cross to the other side of the cliff.  If he goes any further, in the natural, he will surely fall to his death.  So he is being pursued from behind and his life likely will end.  He has heard that if he takes a step, a plank will appear and he can safely walk across to the other side.  There is no indication of this from what his five senses can tell him.  Without another option and facing imminent death, sweat pouring down his face, he steps out. Just as it seems he’s about to fall, the plank appears and he escapes to safety.  That might have been Hollywood but God, too, will take us to that place where only He is the answer.  He will never leave us or forsake us even if He takes me home. The Lord is making me better.

“I may not be where I need to be but thank God I’m not where I used to be.” -  Joyce Meyer

What a mess in me He’s cleaned up already.  Thank you, Lord, for these situations, the irritating ones that create pearls in me.  I can’t expect to say, “Search me and know my heart,” then be surprised when the belt sander comes out!

Psalm 139:23-24  - “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

What did I think He would say?  Perhaps, “You’re 100% good to go, no more offensive ways in you.”  No, it is because He loves me that He continues to allow the tension to grow me up in Him.

Hebrews 12:6 -  “Because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”

So about these loved ones who are irritating and acting like sandpaper, thank you, God.  I will be better with Your grace in the long run because of them than I would be had the situations never occurred.

An irritant, sandpaper, a pearl and trust – it takes faith, and I do want to know Him more!  I was thinking maybe if He sat on the end of my bed and we talked for about an hour that we could make more progress.  But if He wants to do it His way, that’s okay too.