Carved Bowls

“You will suffer for a while, but God will make you complete, steady, strong, and firm.” (1 Peter 5:10 CEV)

I recently watched a time lapse video of a tree stump being carved into a wooden bowl.  It was fascinating! The woodworker found a tree that had been felled in a storm. He used an axe to make the initial cuttings and various smaller hand tools for the finer work. He made a small indentation in the flat surface and kept gently scraping away until the middle was hollowed out. After the bowl was shaped, every surface was sanded down smoothly. Then he poured a generous amount of oil onto the surface and rubbed it in with his hands. The oil was a type of varnish that seals and protects the wood from cracking while also bringing out its natural luster and depth. Everything was done carefully and methodically. Although it looked like a work of art, the woodworker mentioned that this bowl was meant to be functional--it would be used in his home as a serving bowl.

I have a friend who has been hollowed out by suffering. At first, it was hard to imagine that anything good or useful could come out of her hardships. Yet, God is a master woodworker. He took what looked like a stump and carved it carefully--sanding down every splinter. He sealed her with His anointing, methodically revealing her natural depth and luster. She has become a serving vessel that is used to feed and nurture others. God was not the cause of her pain, but He made sure her suffering was not in vain.