Dust in the Hands of Faithful God

A few days ago, I was running an errand with the children and a message by Chuck Swindoll came on. The message was all about Joseph, and I was captivated by it.

I've been thinking a lot lately about what the Word says about Joseph. Over and over again, as pain and turmoil entered Joseph's life, Genesis tells us, "But the LORD was with Joseph", when his brothers threw him into the pit..."But the LORD was with Joseph" when he was in jail..."But the LORD was with Joseph"....when Potiphar's wife falsely accused him.

So...as part of his message, Swindoll quoted Tozer as saying, "It is doubtful that God can use any man greatly until He has hurt him deeply."

My first thought at having heard that was..."Well, THAT STINKS ROYALLY!" and then, "YEAH! There's still hope for me!" ;)

Seriously, though....I've thought about that quote all week long, and I think what I got from it is this....

God's Word says that He uses the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. Jesus came here to earth, and was found spending time with the lost, the corrupt, the unlearned, the sinful.

God allowed Saul to go down a long path of destruction before He chose to blind him and humble him.

He allowed David to be savagely pursued by King Saul before David was to rise as King of Israel.

In His Word, God talks of the refiner's fire...of how we are but clay, and He the Potter.

I think what He is showing me is that He has the right, as my Creator, to turn me back to dust in order that He might build me up as He desires me to be.

Ooooooh......not what I would have chosen, I gotta tell you. It's been a bitterly painful last few months in my household..and the pain is still quite raw.

But...what is His greater desire for me? For you, if you are in a similar situation?

His greatest desire for all of His children is that WE not be what others see, but that He be all that is visible from our lives.

It's a painful process. One I would never sign up for as an elective class....not in a million years!

But, I realized tonight, as I was spending some precious time with one of my cherished sisters...I realized that being pummled to dust in the hands of the Almighty is still better than being elevated to celebrity in the hands of the evil one.

Dust in the hands of faithful God.

Thank you, precious Daddy, for reminding me once again that you are, indeed, faithful...even when I am faithless.

I love you, LORD.

I trust You.