The Importance of Polishing

One of the joys of being at the seaside is the opportunity to do a little beach-combing. There are so many ‘treasures’ to be found: shells, sea glass, driftwood, pebbles. It’s easy to fill your pockets in no time! Sometimes when you get home your finds look a little disappointing, especially the pebbles which don’t gleam so jewel-like when they are dry. But having selected them, I don’t like to just throw them away so I treat them to a few weeks in the Tumble Polisher. First with coarse grit, then with medium grit, then with fine grit. This last is, according to the instructions, the ‘most significant and determines the final polish – it is VITAL that it is not cut short.’

The circumstances of our lives – God’s providential dealings with us – are often like grit which He uses to polish us. Sometimes the small annoyances are particularly hard to bear, and often we might wish for an end to our trials.

The stones that I polish are only for decoration, but the Lord always has a purpose in His polishing. As L B Cowman writes: “Since God knows what niche we are to fill, let us trust Him to shape us to it. And since He knows what work we are to do, let us trust Him to grind us so that we are properly prepared.”

Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord listened and heard them; so a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and who meditate on His name. “They shall be Mine,” says the Lord of hosts, “on the day that I make them My jewels. And I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him.” Then you shall again discern between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him.  Malachi 3:16-18