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An arborist meandered through the woods, examining the trees for their strength and readiness for service, which would make them suitable for greater purposes. Using his marker, he made his way through the woods, designating each tree to be cut down with a red X.

A few days later, the woodsman arrived at the woods, ax in hand to chop down the trees marked for reuse. Each tree stood tall and regal, sharing its beauty and life-giving shade with everything around them. Cutting them down seemed heartless as their beauty and usefulness still existed. Removing them from their comfy surroundings and placing them into new services struck at their very hearts.

But what happened to these glorious ones that received wounding with the agonizing blows of affliction? Each one went to the mill altering. But what were the destinations of these distressed ones? What new purpose awaited each one?

Their futures rested in the hands of master artisans, who lovingly reshaped them into…

…the resplendent instruments of a grand piano or a treasured violin for making beautiful music.

…the paper on which artists wrote great literary works that touched the hearts of others.

…sailing vessels, crafted for navigating the great seas.

…a stately pillar in a house of worship

Can you apply this to your life? Let’s see. Has your life ever gone well until the woodsman walked through it, rending blows of affliction and striking at your very heart? If you are a child of God, your life is marked with the Red X of the Lord, designating it for reuse at the discretion of the Master Artisan.

He will take the trials and affliction plaguing your life and turn them into new purposes for His glory. He will allow them to carve away at your life, making you…

…a fit instrument on which He plays beautiful music
…a blank sheet upon which He may write His message to touch the hearts of others
…a sturdy craft for navigating the great seas of life
…a stately pillar in His house of worship.

Do you feel you are suffering through cutting circumstances? Do you feel the ax of affliction, chopping away at your very heart? Remember, you’ve been marked with that Red X for reuse. The Lord has greater purposes in mind for your life, eternal purposes…for His glory, your blessing, and the benefit of others.

What are the greater purposes God is working in your life?

~~Blessings, Lynn~~