The Scapula

 The surgeon places the patient in a sterile environment. He makes sure the patient is put under asleep. Then he takes the scapula in hand and makes an incision. He cuts not to harm or with ill malice. He slices to ultimately bring healing. To remove an infected area. To repair a broken or ruptured area. His skilled hands inflict pain to bring about eventual healing. 

If physicians can do this does God ever do it? Does He ever inflict pain for ultimate good. Look at Joseph's story in Genesis. Enslaved and imprisoned later on false accusations. It did not seem like the pain made any sense. Until Joseph interpreted Pharaoh's dreams and was exalted to the second highest office in the land of Egypt. Then it all made sense. God worked good out of that situation to save Israel in years of famine. 

Israel spent four centuries enslaved in Egypt. They cried out for deliverance. Generation after generation were denied. It appeared God was not listening and that He was absent. Don't interpret God's silence as absence. God was working all the while. Building the great nation of millions of people promised to Abraham centuries before there was even one. 

Sometimes the ways of God hurt. Sometimes He takes the scapula making incisions in our circumstances that painfully confusing. He is working to bring about His purposes, our ultimate good, and to promote His own glory. 

Many times, I have doubted God in the pain. Each time when I trusted Him long enough, He worked everything for my good just like He said He would. [Rom 8:28] His skilled hands are sculpting me as a potter to make me more useful in His hands. He applies pressure and conforms me to His desire. This is painful but beneficial. I don't like the scapula or the Potter's wheel. I have learned that I need them. He is wise and His hands are skilled. I trust Him to do what is best and necessary to accomplish His purposes even if it hurts initially. Bring on the scapula if it will make me more useful in His hands.