Streams in the Desert July 7 Daily Devotional

He hath made me a polished shaft (Isa. 49:2).
There is a very famous "Pebble Beach" at Pescadero, on the
California coast. The lone line of white surf comes up with its
everlasting roar, and rattles and thunders among the stones on the shore. They are caught in the arms of the pitiless waves, and
tossed and rolled, and rubbed together, and ground against the sharp-grained cliffs. Day and night forever the ceaseless attrition goes on-never any rest And the result?
Tourists from all the world flock thither to gather the round and
beautiful stones. They are laid up in cabinets; they ornament the parlor mantels. But go yonder, around the point of the cliff that
breaks off the face of the sea; and up in that quiet cove,
sheltered from the storms, and lying ever in the sun, you shall find abundance of pebbles that have never been chosen by the traveler.
Why are these left all the years through unsought? For the simple reason that they have escaped all the turmoil and attrition of the
waves, and the quiet and peace have left them as they found them, rough and angular and devoid of beauty. Polish comes through
trouble.
Since God knows what niche we are to fill, let us trust Him to
shape us to it Since He knows what work we are to do, let us trust Him to drill us to the proper preparation.
O blows that smite! O hurts that pierce This shrinking heart of mine!
What are ye but the Master's tools Forming a work Divine?
"Nearly all God's jewels are crystallized tears."