Mike Edmisten Follower of Jesus. Husband of Nicki. Father of Ryan & Brock. Communicator of the Word.

The Grinding Process

Every so often, a rather mundane task sparks a pastoral thought in my mind. Actually, it's more than "every so often." It's pretty much everyday.

For example, I had a couple of keys made today. How's that for exciting? But it sparked a thought.

I went into a local small business that repairs shoes and makes keys. Not sure what one has to do with the other, but this little shop does them both. Anyway…

I gave the guy my key. He put it in the machine and started grinding away to make two new keys for me. Is there any more pleasant sound than that machine making a new key? It's like fingernails…on a chalkboard…on steroids.

But when he was finished, I had two brand new keys. I tested them and they both worked perfectly. But that would not have been the case had it not been for the grinding process.

This guy had a few hundred generic keys hanging on the rack, waiting for someone to purchase them. But every one of those keys is useless until the key maker grinds them.

Similarly, we go through a grinding process at the hands of the Key Maker. That's what tough times are. That's what trials and tests are. That's what uncertain, difficult, hard seasons are. They are the grinding process.

In James 2, the Bible says, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." (James 2:2-4)

In the toughest, loneliest, hardest times…remember that you're in the grinding process…which means that God can use you for much greater things when the grinding is complete.