Monday, May 24, 2010

On The Anvil...


If you were a tool in a blacksmiths shop, you would fall in one of three places: in the scrap pile, on the anvil, or in the blacksmith's tool chest ready and waiting to be used. Which place in the shop do you find yourself in right now? Me, I am on the anvil. I think it would be easier to be in the scrap pile. It's defiantly less painful, there's not much work for me there, and I would pretty much be left alone. But I despise the scrap pile, because there is no purpose that gives us passion when we find ourselves in that spot. In the scrap pile we a broken, dull, useless. Like I said, I despise the scrap pile. I long to be in the blacksmith's tool chest,useful to my master, ready, able, sharp, available to fulfill my calling. I have experienced the sweet opportunity of belonging in the makers choice of prime instruments. I have tasted the goodness of working with the Master's plan, building His eternal Kingdom. There really is no other place I'd rather be. But like all tools, we grow dull, we may break, or get deformed and crooked because we are trying to fix things and do jobs we were not meant to do. That is where I find myself at. So the Master Blacksmith picks me up in His strong hands and places me on the anvil. I am in need of repair, longing to be rebuilt, my heart is open and welcoming the hard work of change. However, not without some fear of what I must endure. Reshaping, remolding, responding to the blows of the hammer does not come without discomfort, even pain. For the toolmaker to melt down the old and recast it as new is a disrupting process. Yet, I will remain on the anvil, surrendered to the work of the Master. He knows just how to shape me to be the tool he needs. So it's anvil time for me. I lie here, melted down, formless, undone. How did I get here? By slowly compromising my faith for worldly desires, my pride, grief from loss. Many things can take us to the anvil, but the anvil is not to be avoided. The anvil brings us face-to-face with God, giving us a realization that there is nowhere else to go. pound. pound. pound. Being on the anvil is making me see clearly who I am, and who God is. An instrument is only useful when it is in the right shape. I will remain on the anvil as long as it takes, no matter the pain, in order to be useful in my Master's hands again. Like I said, there is no other place I would rather be.

"For a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trails. These have come so that your faith-of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire-may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." 1Peter 1:6-7

3 comments:

Unknown said...

My love, This is really good. I've always thought you were Flamin HOT I just always thought it was your looks and cute personality, not you being in the fire. And don't forget that when a craftsmen puts his tools to use it strains and wares on the tool. Where Fire is the hottest and the anvil is painful. Being used by the master craftsmen is hard work too. I love you

Karen Hammons said...

This is awesome Kristen!! This just blew me away. Love it and I love you sweet friend. :)

HisFireFly said...

What wise words!

I so often find myself trying to crawl off the anvil and back into the safety of the scrap pile.

I am so thankful to the Holy Spirit Who reminds me that in His will is truly the safest place of all!