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「…是耶和華的手作成的…」（伯十二9）
幾年前在非洲礦中發現了一顆有史以來從未有過的大金剛石。人把它進貢給英皇，作他冠冕上的飾物。英皇就把它送到荷京阿姆斯特丹（Amsterdam），交給一個世上最著名的寶石匠，請他切搓。你想他怎樣作？
他拿起這無價之寶來，先刻了一道深痕。然後拿起鐵鎚來把它狠命一擊，看哪！一塊世上僅有的寶石頓時一裂為二。啊，荒謬、該死的寶石匠，闖了彌天大禍！
事實並不是這樣，那一擊是曾經過好幾星期的考慮和計劃。繪圖、打樣，曾化了許多功夫。它的性質、硬度和裡面的裂紋，都曾經過詳細的研究。英皇所委託的這人，是世上寶石匠中的第一名手。
你說那一擊是擊錯了麼？不。這是寶石匠技術最高的表演。那一擊使那塊寶石成了世上最玲瓏、最炫耀的兩顆金剛鑽；那一擊實在是它的拯救。
有時在你的生活中，上帝也把你猛擊一下。掛淚、流血、喪志、灰心，你說那一擊是擊錯了，可是並沒有。你是上帝的無價之寶，上帝是你的寶石匠。
有一天，你將作上帝冠冕上發光的寶石。現在你既在祂手中，祂知道怎樣對付你。若不是上帝的愛所許可的，沒有一擊能臨到你。──馬克康該（J. H. Mc C.）
在喬治•麥唐納的著作裏，有二位女士的對話，一是費柏太太，一是桃樂賽女士。
費柏太太惱恨地說：「我不知道上帝爲何造我，造我有什麽用處？」
桃樂賽告訴她道：「也許目前還沒有顯明用處，上帝尚未將你創造得完全，但是在上帝創造你的過程中，你就對創造者有所抱怨了！”
人們只要相信自己尚在被創造的過程中，並且願意讓造物主隨意處理，像陶匠處理泥土一樣，順服於上帝的一切工作，不久人們就會歡迎那雙加在他們身上壓力的手，雖然有時壓得痛苦，但是他們深信，而且認識了上帝創造的目的，是要把人引導進入光榮之境。
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"The hand of the Lord hath wrought this" (Job 12:9).
Several years ago there was found in an African mine the most magnificent diamond in the world's history. It was presented to the King of England to blaze in his crown of state. The King sent it to Amsterdam to be cut. It was put into the hands of an expert lapidary. And what do you suppose he did with it?
He took the gem of priceless value, and cut a notch in it. Then he struck it a hard blow with his instrument, and lo! the superb jewel lay in his hand cleft in twain. What recklessness I what wastefulness! what criminal carelessness!
Not so. For days and weeks that blow had been studied and planned. Drawings and models had been made of the gem. Its quality, its defects, its lines of cleavage had all been studied with minutest care. The man to whom it was committed was one of the most skillful lapidaries in the world.
Do you say that blow was a mistake? Nay. It was the climax of the lapidary's skill. When he struck that blow, he did the one thing which would bring that gem to its most perfect shapeliness, radiance, and jewelled splendor.
That blow which seemed to ruin the superb precious stone was, in fact, its perfect redemption. For, from those two halves were wrought the two magnificent gems which the skilled eye of the lapidary saw hidden in the rough, uncut stone as it came from the mine.
So, sometimes, God lets a stinging blow fall upon your life. The blood spurts. The nerves wince. The soul cries out in agony. The blow seems to you an apalling mistake. But it is not, for you are the most priceless jewel in the world to God. And He is the most skilled lapidary in the universe.
Some day you are to blaze in the diadem of the King. As you lie in His hand now He knows just how to deal with you. Not a blow will be permitted to fall upon your shrinking soul but that the love of God permits it, and works out from its depths, blessing and spiritual enrichment unseen, and unthought of by you. --J. H. McC.
In one of George MacDonald's books occurs this fragment of conversation: "I wonder why God made me," said Mrs. Faber bitterly. "I'm sure I don't know what was the use of making me!"
"Perhaps not much yet," said Dorothy, "but then He hasn't done with you yet. He is making you now, and you are quarrelling with the process."
If men would but believe that they are in process of creation, and consent to be made--let the Maker handle them as the potter the clay, yielding themselves in resplendent motion and submissive, hopeful action with the turning of His wheel--they would ere long find themselves able to welcome every pressure of that hand on them, even when it was felt in pain; and sometimes not only to believe but to recognize the Divine end in view, the bringing of a son unto glory.
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