Sandpaper is a wonderful tool when working with wood. It removes rough edges, smoothing the surface until it feels like glass – clean, polished and beautiful to the touch. But sandpaper isn’t so welcome when it’s woven into the fabric of a personality.
“Sandpaper people” are those who seem to constantly rub us the wrong way. It could be anything – from the way they talk to how they carry themselves that tests our patience and stretches our Christian spirit. Yet, these may be the very people God is using to refine us, shaping our character and making us more like Christ.
Most of us can probably name at least one person like that in our lives. Maybe what we need is a change in perspective. What if, instead of reacting in frustration, we chose to pray for them? In doing so, not only do our hearts soften, but our tolerance, grace and forgiveness deepen. God uses even the difficult people to do beautiful work in us. And in the process, He makes our rough edges a little smoother too.
Proverbs 27:17 (NIV)
“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”
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