How God Shapes Us

by Joshua Woodmansee

My youth group teacher from church recently brought forth a new idea that peaked my interest. It was about how God can shape us and reveal spiritual truths to us and answer our doubts. One thing in particular that I heard was how “God can shape us.” I started thinking about this and I researched many times in the Bible about “how God puts us through trials,” and how God shapes us through fire. A Bible verse that nails this topic into context perfectly is 1 Peter 1:7 NIV “These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” What I like about this verse is that it explains that we are like gold ore, recently chipped out of the rocks of the earth and now we must go through the pain and fire for a short while until we come upon the end result- – – Pure Gold. 

I love this illustration because I find it simple to understand and very helpful in many people’s lives. Another illustration I find useful is that we, God’s people, are clay and God is the potter. He shapes us so that we come out renewed and full of his grace and mercy. I find that these verses here also describe this illustration perfectly as well as the gold ore one.

Isaiah 64:8 NIV “Yet you, LORD, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.”

Isaiah 48:10 NIV “See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.”

I find that many people have a tough time understanding the fact of “why bad things happen to good people” and ask, “Why does God allow suffering?” First of all, God clearly allows suffering for us for our own good. Suffering helps shape us into a healthy Christian. It also says in the Bible about how much more God CARES for us. If you are in times of trouble, this verse says it all. 1 Peter 5:7 NIV “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” The Bible is the key to fixing all problems whether it’s family division or job difficulties or even just a frustrating math problem! God is the way for everything. He will listen to every cry and cheer and every hope and prayer. If you ask Jesus if you can talk to him about your life, Jesus will answer. “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” John 14:6 NIV. And he will listen to your hurts and sorrows and successes kindly and comfort you all the days of your life.