The story is told of a Christian man who was overthrown by trials—really went through a terrible time. His career had been wrecked. He lost all his money. He had a loved one die. And he was wandering the streets of his city—sort of in the days of the Depression—and wondering,
Richard D. PhillipsWhy is this happening to me?He trusted in God, after all. And he came upon a place where a tall cathedral was being erected. And as he gazed at the construction, he saw a workman sitting right before him on the lower level. And he was working carefully—he was a stonemason—carefully crafting and shaping an ornamental stone. So he goes up to the man and says,Tell me, what are you doing?The worker said,Look—crane your neck and see to the very top. You see that space up there? This is designed to go there. I am shaping it down here so that it will fit up there above.Well, the man looked, and he began weeping, and he closed his eyes and prayed to the Lord. Inside, he realized that whatever else was happening, this was going on in his life. He said,Lord, you are shaping me down here so that I will fit where you have designed me to be above.So it is for us all.1
4 For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just as you know.