Amber
Baltic amber necklace with a mosquito and fly 40-60 million years old, Author Broken Inaglory (CC BY-SA-3.0 Unported)
“He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief” (Is. 53: 3).
Amber is an organic material, a “natural plastic” derived from fossilized tree resin. Amber is formed beneath the earth, under high pressures and temperatures for eons. The oldest amber recovered dates to 320 million years ago.
Amber has been utilized in jewelry and folk medicine, and widely traded since antiquity. It has been found in Neolithic graves dated to 8000 BC. Because amber in its original state is soft and sticky, it may collect small prehistoric insects and plant material. Such inclusions are highly prized.
Many of us seem to think that, as Christians, we should be exempt from suffering. Nothing could be further from the truth. Suffering is an essential tool God uses to conform us to the image of His Son, in the process of sanctification. Jesus was, after all, the Suffering Servant prophesied by Isaiah.
Only in the heat and pressure of the furnace – circumstances we might, in human terms, find insupportable – is our character formed and tested. Like amber, we are melded and transformed by no action of our own.
Sin-encrusted, we were yet precious in God’s eyes. Before the world began – or the first amber ever formed – it was planned His Son would be wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities.
So that we might become jewels.
READERS CAN FIND MY VIEWS ON ABUSE AND ABUSE-RELATED ISSUES AT ANNA WALDHERR A Voice Reclaimed, Surviving Child Abuse https://avoicereclaimed.com
A Lawyer's Prayers 
Anna, this is a beautiful insight that you have brought forth from the treasure He has placed in you under all that you have suffered and gone through. YOU are very special for Daddy has chosen you to be His daughter from the foundation of the world. I am so blessed to know you. Keep sharing from your heart, dear sister! ❤
You are too kind, Michael. I do not deserve such praise. I am the one blessed. But I am grateful if the post touched a chord.
Very nice Anna
Thank you, Wally. I actually wrote this years ago, but was prompted to publish it here.
Well, I really enjoyed it. I just love to read people who take all of the really cool words and weave images that make others just get the point. I’d like to share this if you don’t mind. Every evening I share a post from another blogger, and I’d like to share this one if that’s cool.
Wow! Thanks so much! 🙂
Nah, thank you for the post! I really like your post Anna, as you always provide a good link between what the Bible says and the lives we actually live. I suspect you and James would have gotten along grandly.
Now you’ve really made me smile.
Much wisdom here Anna. Pleased to know that there are still those who understand this principle.
Have a great week!
You too, Ron. Thank you.
Reblogged this on Anchor Thy Soul .
Great post! I began reading science, and it led to infallible truth 🙂
Thank you! 🙂