A Pounding Process and My Great Down Comforter

Not only do we encounter heaping helpings of poop at times, but another example my friend shared between signing books is how we tenderize meat by pounding it with a hammer.  For example, after breaking up with my boyfriend Saturday night, I asked, “Oh Lord my God, aren’t I tender enough?”

And think about pruning branches, shearing sheep..., threshing wheat, refining silver, or firing clay... So many natural processes from growing fruit to making porcelin require severity to some degree, and a huge measure of patience. We cry, "No Lord! I have a fear of knives and shears and fire!" But the Master knows what He's trying to achieve not only in us but through us for the benefit of others.

“Let’s fix our focus on Jesus, the one who created faith in us and intends to complete it, who focused on heaven and chose to endure even a cross and its terrible shame, before taking his place at the right side of the throne of God. Think about it. He endured such great opposition from wicked men it should encourage us to persevere in what we face.

In our struggles we haven’t had to reach the point of bleeding on a cross have we. And don’t forget, the Lord loves you even if he has to discipline you as a child at times. Endure it because you are in his compassionate hands as a son or daughter…. He only disciplines so that we may grow spiritually and produce a good harvest of right living and peace.” (my translation of Heb 12:2-11)

I am grateful to my Lord Jesus who loves me so perfectly, and so personally. He captures every word in my heart and arouses the dreams in my soul. He gets me! He knows what it feels like to walk in these shoes and his presence is better than a down comforter.

Don’t you love his last words in Matthew’s gospel? The resurrected Christ came to his doubting troubled friends and gave them (and us) a powerful promise to sustain on this journey.
“Surely I am with you always, even to the end of the world.” (Matthew 28:20)