As I sit and watch the water flow in the waterfall that Nick and his friend Adam built for me, my mind is pondering the power of the effects that water has on rock.
A steady stream of water can smooth out the most jagged edges on the hardest rock over a period of time. Some hearts are as hard and jagged as some rocks. There are a couple of ways to smooth a jagged rock…with a chisel..(which is quick) and with water (which is slow.)
I know my own heart has been chiseled, some of the hardest edges knocked away by God’s precise blow….but I also realize that some places that were once hard, jagged and uninviting have become softer, rounder and easier to handle…kind of like a pebble that has been made round by other rough rocks being tossed about by wave after wave of water. These are the kind of stones that are great fun to pick up and hold in your hand or collect.
I realize that sometimes I want God to use a chisel on other people. I want those rough edges broken off quickly, but God more often is like water rather than a chisel. He allows the steady flow of the Holy Spirit to round off hard edges. He also uses people to rub up against each other as the Spirit moves upon us in waves. Eventually we will all be smooth, round pebbles that fits comfortably in God’s hands.
I like this visual. It gives me hope when I get cut by the sharp edges of some people’s hearts.
THanks