Designer

I have a friend who can fix just about anything. From a computer that needs rebuilt to a leaky faucet. He is just really good with hands. I had a wooden rocking chair on my balcony a while back. It was old and was about to break. I had friends over one night, we were cooking diner and then having a Bible study. I opened the balcony door to let in some fresh air. Now my room mate and I knew not to sit in this chair because it wasn't sturdy. My handy friend however didn't! He sat down and started to rock, and well Im sure you can guess what happened. He fell right through it! After we all stopped laughing, we helped him out and dusted off his wounded pride.

My friend apologized on and on about breaking the chair. I tried to convince him that it was ok, and that I had been meaning to take it to the dumpster anyway. As soon as I said that he looked at me and asked is he could have it. I looked at the pile of old wood, didn't give it a second thought and said, "gladly, that just means I don't have to haul it away."

So he takes the pile of broken wood that looked just like what it was, a pile of wood. After two days of taking the chair apart - performing what looked like orthopedic surgery to me, you know when pins and screws are inserted to keep bones and joints from further damage – followed by a little gluing, sanding, and staining, the chair looked brand new.

"Wow!" I said, impressed.

"Sit in it and rock back," he encouraged.

"Rock back? I don't think so! What if I break it?"

"Oh, believe me. You won't."

"How do you know?" I asked, not convinced.

"I know how I designed it. I know the pressure points and how much stress it can take" he responded with a smile of confidence. "Go on. Sit in it and rock back."

I sat down and rocked back.

The chair was solid. I don't care who sits in it, or how they land in it now, it will not break.

I think about the times we don't believe we can handle any more stress. The pressure seems overwhelming and we cry, "Time out! I can't take any more!"

God responds, "Trust me. You will not be destroyed. I know your pressure points. I know how much stress you can take. I know how I designed you."

I cannot describe the peace I felt when I related the work of my friend's hands to the work of God's hand.

Of course He knows how much I can take. After all He is my Creator, the one who bent down by the river and fashioned me with His hands. He's the one who knit me together in the depths of my mother's womb, the one who is called the Potter.

He knows the exact temperature needed in the kiln to create the perfect clay vessel. He knows how hot the fire must be to separate the impurities from the silver and gold. He knows how much pressure a diamond or emerald must withstand in order for it to come forth solid and brilliant. He knows how long the irritant must sit in an oyster before it becomes a pearl.

My Father knows exactly how much I can take. He knows because He designed me. With that realization I am able to trust Him and smile at the future, no matter how hard life is today.

Lord , You are the Carpenter. You know exactly how to build a piece that will withstand pressure and stress, a work of art that will not easily crumble. You created me the same way.
Rather than tremble in the face of despair, help me trust in Your design.