Tumble Dry

Having one mid-week day off from work, it most often becomes the day for household chores and other errands. High on the household chore list is often laundry, which includes not only our family’s clothing but also the bedding. Pulling the sheets and comforter to our bed out of the washing machine, I proceeded to put the wet items into the dryer. After a reasonable amount of time, I checked on them only to find that the comforter had wrapped itself around the sheets in a nice tight roll. When I unfolded the mess of sheets and comforter, the inside portion was still very wet and tightly wrinkled. Although the hot air and tumbling motion had been available to dry and de-wrinkle this bedding, the tight wrapping had made it impossible for the air to reach the center. Checking everything out and putting in just the sheets, I restarted the dryer. When the sheets were completely dry, I then put the comforter in again and checked on it every few minutes until it also was dry.

This significantly delayed the completion of the rest of the laundry. But soon clean dry sheets and comforter were once again serving their purpose to cover the bed. There would be warmth and softness when next we climbed into bed.

As I completed the bedding for the other room, I made certain to put only the sheets in the dryer with some other small articles of clothing. These sheets tumbled nicely, dried and were ready to be used in a relatively short time. Because they had not rolled up into a ball, the tumbling motion and heated air of the dryer was able to efficiently perform its purpose.

We can be like the bedding that came out of the washer. Having soaked in the Word of God we may be full of all that we need to be the beautiful clean Bride of Christ. “So that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the Word, That He might present the church to Himself in glorious splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such things [that she might be holy and faultless].”  (Ephesians 5:26-27 AMP) Then we come out into the realities of the world around us and find that life is causing both heat and turbulence to toss around. Like the dryer, only this heated turbulence can remove the wrinkles from our personality and spirit while at the same time preparing us with all that we need to serve a hurting world.

Just as washing the clothes without putting them in the dryer had never been a part of my plan, having the truth of the Word without applying in our lives is not a part of God's plan for us. Likewise, as I would not put clothes that had not been first washed would into the dryer, reading and studying the Word can prepare us to be God’s servants. “Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth.”  (2 Timothy 2:15 AMP) But it is in the trials of life that we are truly prepared for the work in the kingdom of God. These trials were promised to us by Jesus. “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]”  (John 16:33 AMP)

Not only should we not be surprised when the trials and trouble come, we should welcome them. This trials serve to not only bring us closer to God but prepare us to serve those He will bring into our lives. “Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience. But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing.”  (James 1:3-4 AMP) As we cooperate with the Lord and open ourselves up to His work, even when it is uncomfortable, we will lose the wrinkles and be prepared to serve others. “Grace (favor and spiritual blessing) to you and [heart] peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of sympathy (pity and mercy) and the God [Who is the Source] of every comfort (consolation and encouragement), Who comforts (consoles and encourages) us in every trouble (calamity and affliction), so that we may also be able to comfort (console and encourage) those who are in any kind of trouble or distress, with the comfort (consolation and encouragement) with which we ourselves are comforted (consoled and encouraged) by God.” (2 Corinthians 1:2-4 AMP)
Attempting to pull in ourselves and those we hold dear to protect ourselves from the trials of life will only cause delays in our growth. As we read above, Jesus wishes to present us to His Father without spot or wrinkle. We may also delay future work in our lives that the Lord desires to do. So our best course of action is to open ourselves to God and trust Him to teach us through His Word and through the trials that we walk through together with Him.
If you find yourself in difficult circumstances and self-preservation is screaming to pull in and protect yourself at any cost, please open yourself up to the sustaining love of your Heavenly Father. Heat and turbulence may be there, but you are not alone. Allow God to complete His purpose in you.