Good morning and welcome to Starting Right with Danny Mac . I'm going to be here every Monday to Friday to help you get a great five-minute start to your day . So grab your cup of coffee , sit back , relax and let me help you start your day right . I have a story I want to tell you this morning .
It was one that was sent to me and I have no idea where it originated or how old it is , but it's pretty good and I think you'll like it . This is the story of a hammer , a nail , a file and a furnace . As most of us know , a hammer is a very useful tool , especially when we're trying to drive nails into wood to build something .
Every time the hammer hits the nail , it drives that nail deeper and deeper into the wood and makes it stronger and tighter into the place it needs to be . But just for a moment , let's assume that that nail had intelligence and feelings .
I'm sure that nail would have something to say about the situation , because the nail , the hammer , is just a brutal enemy that loves to beat it into submission . That's how the nail sees the hammer , and it is correct , except for one thing the nail tends to forget that both it and the hammer are held by the same craftsman .
It is the craftsman who decides whose nail head will be pounded out of sight and which hammer will be used to do the job . This decision is the sole right of the carpenter . So the nail needs to remember that both it and the hammer are held by the same workman .
And if the nail remembers that , its resentment will start to fade as it yields to the skill of the carpenter without complaint . This same analogy holds true for the metal that endures the rasp of the file and the blast of the furnace . If the metal forgets that it and the tools are objects of the same craftsman's care , it could build up hatred and resentment .
The middle must keep in mind that the craftsman knows what he's doing and is doing what is best . We have all felt heartaches and disappointments hit us like a hammer . Those crushing moments come in all shapes and sizes , like an unfilled romance , a lingering illness or an untimely death . Sometimes it's an unachieved goal in life or a broken home or marriage .
It could be an ended friendship or a wayward and rebellious child , or a medical report that advises immediate surgery . For some it's a failing grade at school or an overwhelming depression that just won't go away . Sometimes it's a habit that you just can't seem to break . Heartaches can come suddenly . Other times they seem to grow over the passing of many months .
So do I speak to a nail that has begun to resent the blows of the hammer ? Are you at the brink of despair , thinking that you can't bear another day of heartache ? Is that what's gotten you down ? As difficult as it may be for you to believe this today , the Master knows what he's doing . Your Savior knows your breaking point .
The bruising and crushing and melting process is designed to shape you , not ruin you . Your value is increasing the longer he lingers over you . I know that story is just a little bit different , but at different points in our lives we all at times feel like we're being beat on .
We're just getting hit in the head again and again and again like that poor nail , or we're going through the fire like that piece of metal .
But 1 Peter , chapter 1 , verses 6 to 9 , tell us this In this you rejoice , though now for a little while , if necessary , you have been grieved by various trials so that the tested genuineness of your faith , more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire , may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ
. Though you have not seen him , you love him . Though you do not now see him , you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory , obtaining the outcome of our faith , that is , the salvation of our souls . God wants us to know that there are times in our lives where there will be things going on that we won't like .
It will be very uncomfortable , but during those times , god can strengthen our faith and make us stronger than we've ever been before . We learn to trust Him more , we learn to believe in His Word , we learn to hang on to Him , and the end result is we are stronger and more effective in our walk with God , and that's what he wants .
So today , if you're going through one of those really difficult trials , man , I feel for you , but don't give up , and in this time where you feel like you're getting beaten up or going through the fire , that's the time when God is with you the most . He will make you stronger , with a more powerful understanding of Him and His faithfulness .
In the end , keep the faith , keep strong . Have a great day . My friends , we're going to talk again tomorrow because you are going to overcome today . Thank you for listening today and I invite you to join me Monday to Friday , right here on Starting Right with Danny Mac .