I know personally that adversity brings blessings when coupled with faith. Consider the David statue and how the sculptor shaped the once block of marble into a beautiful statue and then did finishing work that completed it as a resplendent work of art.
Trials are like that, they’re never fun and are often times painful. Comparing my trials to a block of marble each one has removed chunks of stone in me that hurt. (Sometimes it felt like parts of me were chipped away until there was nothing left.) In the beginning of my latest trial my life got overwhelmingly turned upside down as I felt greatly exposed and was confronted with a new normal. I didn’t want it! “I don’t have time for this!” I thought but life moved forward, and so it was. What could I do but face my trial with faith and keep moving? I put my heart in the Lord’s hands and He comforted me, calmed my troubled feelings and gave me peace.
I feel okay but my trial is still there. Thankfully, the Lord walks with me (and sometimes carries me) as we face my trial together. Comparing the marble statue to myself now comes the finishing work. I’ve endured the hard part of chipping and sculpting and now is buffing and polishing as my character is shaped into the resplendent me. The Lord’s constant companionship is a welcome comfort as I find myself learning, stretching and growing each day.
It’s the 23rd Psalm. My heart, once chaotic but now calm, is the transformation of the Atonement of the Lord, Jesus Christ. The beginning of my trial was hard. I prayed for relief several times and He came to me. (The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.) He helped me by kindly teaching me. (He maketh me to lie down in green pastures.) He calmed my troubled heart when my life was turned upside down. (He leadeth me beside the still waters.) And He made me feel okay. (He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.)
In my personal, private discomfort He’s always right next to me as I endure. (Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.) At times I feel that life is against me but even then it’s personal as I learn, stretch and grow, and my heart overflows with love and gratitude. (Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies: Thou annointest my head with oil; my cup runneth o’er.)
Like the block of marble that withstands sculpting and finishing work and is transformed into a beautiful statue all things become complete. The sculpting and finishing work are personal but the end result is for all to enjoy. (Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.)
The following scripture seems to fit this scenario: “That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day.”
The 23rd Psalm
The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies: Thou annointest my head with oil; my cup runneth o’er.
Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.