During seasons of rest and stillness, it’s tempting to think nothing much happens. However, God uses these times as periods for growth, honing our souls, shaping us into greater Christ-likeness.

Although we may not yet be fully fledged works of art, we are works in progress, not left gathering dust on the shelf. Even as our Master Craftsman wields His instruments, we may resent the strokes that are creating art and beauty from our hardened clay. Until we learn to yield, become softened, malleable to His tender touch.

It’s been a struggle for me to sit with stillness over the last few weeks, surrendering to deeper rest. My busy brain and restless soul have taken time to settle down and go with the flow of God’s unforced rhythms of grace, instead of my usual hassle and haste.

The refining, shaping process can feel uncomfortable. I’ve discovered I’m not as pliable or surrendered as I thought I was. There’s a degree of resistance, rough edges within needing to be sanded and smoothed.

Sometimes the thought of all the work God needs to complete in us makes us despair. Because we can forget that cracked, broken vessels need shaping, to go through fires of adversity to be made fit for a holy purpose we can’t yet see.

Prayer Whisper: ‘Unveiling’

“As a sculptor works diligently on resistant stone, so I am sculpting a thing of beauty from the granite hardness of your soul, replacing a heart of stone with a heart of flesh, making all things new. Each hammer and chip, every chisel and blade is refining your heart and mind.

I see all you are becoming. My eyes have the end view in sight, even as I work on all that you are now. Days of patient toil, little by little, are transforming you from the inside out. Remember you are safe in the Master Craftsman’s hands.

Yield yourself to the process. Accept the pierce of My word, the fires of adversity where I hone you to perfection. Enlarge your vision to include all you will become by My grace. Do not resist My hand on your life or run away from the loving correction I offer you..”

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To read the rest of this post, please follow me over to the Association of Christian Writers ‘More than Writers’ blog where I am sharing my words today. Just click here to join me there. Thank you! 🙂

**NOTE** –  Dear Friends, I’m still resting, (melting and wilted, while our country basks in a heatwave) and not quite back to my usual writing schedule as yet. Please subscribe by email to receive my summer newsletter and news of future updates. I would love to hear from you! You can respond below or contact me via email. 

May God shower abundant blessings on you. With love and prayers. Resting in His grace, Joy xo