He made me into a polished arrow (Isaiah 49:2).
Charles and Lettie Cowman went to Japan as missionaries in 1901. Charles died in 1924, never dreaming that his widow, Lettie, would publish a devotional book, Streams in the Desert, that would inspire a golfer like me a hundred years later!
I am quite sure that Lettie, who by the way lived to be ninety, never wasted one moment of her special life thinking about golf. She knew nothing about yips or shanks. But she did appreciate Pebble Beach!
I am writing this on July 7, which is the date when Streams in the Desert takes us to Pebble Beach annually. Listen to what Lettie Cowman wrote in 1926, just seven years after the famous Golf Links was built in 1919.
The founders of the golf course borrowed the name from the real Pebble Beach, located 78 miles north in Pescadero, California. Lettie’s scripture for that day was Isaiah 49:2, “He made me into a polished arrow.” Read her inspiration about the pebbles of Pebble Beach carefully:
“There is a very famous “Pebble Beach” at Pescadero, on the California coast. The long 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, tossed and rolled, 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 force of the sea; and up in that quiet cove, sheltered from the storms, and lying ever in the sun, you shall find an 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. Nearly all God’s jewels are crystallized tears.”
So, “polish comes through trouble!” Have you had any troubles lately? Maybe God is polishing His precious pebble (YOU) into a beautiful piece of jewelry.
For Lettie Cowman, she was left as a widow. But she turned her troubles into inspiration for the world. God used her sorrow to make her a “polished arrow”.
Isaiah (written in 700 BC) seemed to know that Pebble Beach on the California coastland would provide inspiration:
“Listen to me, O coastlands. And give attention, you peoples from afar. The Lord called me from the womb, from the body of my mother he named my name, He made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow; in his quiver he hid me away. And he said to me, ‘You are my servant, Israel, in whom
Today, take these strong words from Isaiah and Lettie and let them be true for you! Take your tears and turn them into jewels.
PRAYER: O God, take the tears of our readers this morning and turn them into jewels for the glory of your Name.