Sanding Down Self

The smell of essential oils is wafting through the air.  The warm steam is lightly puffing in my face.  I’m nestled under a cozy blanket as the esthetician is massaging creams into my skin.  She gently places some goggles over my eyes as she brings a light towards my now moisturized face to see what she needs to do when all of a sudden….WRRRRR.  Sandpaper to my skin?!?!

Don’t get me wrong.  It’s not hurting, but it’s sliding methodically across my skin like a tiny industrial buffer while suctioning at the same time.  What the H-E-double hockey sticks is THAT?!

I’m told it’s microdermabrasion.  I had signed up for it, so don’t go thinking she’s scraping my skin without my consent, but it’s never been done to me before.  So the weird but light scraping sensation is a new one to me.

But what exactly does it do, Erin?  I’m so glad you asked.  It’s meant to rejuvenate your skin and help with discoloration, fine lines and wrinkles, enlarged pores….you get the idea.  It glides across the skin, sloughing off the outer layer.  Think of it as an extra-strength, knock-your-socks-off, you-look-ten-years-younger, face scrub.

This morning, I’m looking at my skin since it’s been 24 hours.  Is it just me, or does my skin look a little more refreshed?!  I don’t really know, because I can’t really tell yet.  But it got me thinking about how my life gets sanded down in the same way by God on a daily basis.

I love Jesus, and I long to do His will.  But I’m human, and I make mistakes.  I think sometimes I’m following His direction when I’m really following my own.  I fall into the trap of Satan’s lies and forge ahead into my sin.  Many times, I’ve seen what God has put in front of me, and I’ve ignored it for the better “me” version; sinning at its finest.  It hurts my heart when I know I’ve sinned, and yet, I do it on a daily basis.

Our Holy Spirit is like that tool.  God sent the Holy Spirit to live in us, as believers, to sand down those rough edges where we struggle and where we ask for help.  I have a problem with a perpetual negative attitude?  I seek His relief, and He sands down those gritty parts that need to be worked on, gently reminding me as the sloughing off happens that God is stronger than my negative attitude.  We have trouble in the area of gossiping?  The Holy Spirit buffs out those portions whispering the reminder that the tongue is a fiery member (James 3:6) and to see people the way Jesus sees people.  No matter what your issue is, He’s right there, sanding us down and taking off that dead layer of “self” to reveal a healthier and fresh layer of self….the one that illuminates God’s glory for you and all to see.

When you feel Him sanding that rough outer layer, don’t be caught off guard like I was when I had my facial treatment.  Know that it’s for your benefit and His glory.  I can guarantee you won’t be like me, staring at my skin, wondering if I see a difference.  You’ll know.  It’ll be evident.  It’ll be unmistakable.  And it’s beautiful.

~Erin