There are times when we encounter giant challenges -- so huge that we think we cannot get through life. All combined they are like an ape, a big obstacle on our way to our target destination.
I have this favorite verse from Psalm 25 : 4 --
Remove the dross from the silver, and a silversmith can produce a vessel.I remember what my client/friend asked me when we were to start a project a few years back. He asked me, "What are the reasons we cannot finish this project?" He wanted to know the obstacles so we could together combine our strengths to avoid or if not handle them well to meet our goal.
A person or a group of people can put us to test when we are most determined to focus on what we want to accomplish. They can be ruthless detractors that can kill one's spirit. The joke of life is when you are in your best momentum, the enemies in darkness using people's bodies and minds will disturb our inner peace. They are rubbish. They are dross, no matter how huge they are.
I encountered people like them. To whom did I seek refuge but to God? Psalm 121 : 7 comforts me always, "The Lord will protect you from all evils; He will keep your soul."
Many times in many challenging situations I felt my Creator's hands. Some difficult people were removed from my life. I did not pray for to Him to remove them but to enlighten them for their arrogance, lies, disrespect, and love of chaos. There were low moments when my spirit was weak, and I wanted to perish, but time and again, this line proved to be very moving and powerful -- John 17 : 15 -- "I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one."
Weeding out time, I asked myself, "Who could imagine it would happen that way? Nobody, nobody."
When they are gone, you will see and feel the difference.
Like the silversmith, after removing the impurities from the silver, a vessel can be created. This means we forward with life without the rubbish elements.
Recently there was flooding in the comfort room of our flat. My roommate unclogged the drainpipe by removing two (2) big wig-like collections of hairlines, which apparently got that thick through the years. It was a big relief to see the water flowing to the drain, and to step safely on the dry floor again.
In life, there are people, things or whatever attached to or near us, veiling us, so the right path appears to be foggy and dusty. Let us shake the dust off, unveil our faces, and let the unshaken core of us very strongly remain.
I passionately make a prayer, "I humbly turn to you, my Lord. Take my veil away."
---
Photo credits: Pixabay
Comments
Post a Comment