“When God Wants To Drill a Man”
I came across this poem many years ago in a book called Spiritual Leadership by Oswald Sanders. I was also inspired by a pastor friend who recited it from memory at a leadership conference.
I love the message of the poem, but it is also quite nicely crafted, don’t you think? Enjoy.
When God Wants To Drill A Man
When God wants to drill a man,
And thrill a man,
And skill a man
When God wants to mold a man
To play the noblest part;
When He yearns with all His heart
To create so great and bold a man
That all the world shall be amazed,
Watch His methods, watch His ways!
How He ruthlessly perfects
Whom He royally elects!
How He hammers him and hurts him,
And with mighty blows converts him
Into trial shapes of clay which
Only God understands;
While his tortured heart is crying
And he lifts beseeching hands!
How He bends but never breaks
When his good He undertakes;
How He uses whom He chooses,
And which every purpose fuses him;
By every act induces him
To try His splendor out-
God knows what He’s about.
– Anonymous
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Comments? Leave them below!
Struck by God blow by blow, in the fire do i go, never wanting due the path, cause much doubt with tears and pain,never wanting due the path cause confusion mourn and grief, still so blind i cannot see why the mighty deals with me. Struck by God blow by blow, in the fire do i go. Ever crying why forsaken?, as the path print clearly shows,that forsaken is the goal, though mistaken i have reasoned, with the struggle of forsaken. Never wanting due the path, cause the pain to much to bear. Struck by God blow by blow, in the fire do i go, never wanting due the path cause the grief to much to bear,on the path of haze to be, just so faintly i could see, the treasures of the kingdom be. As one stood a prince of glory,for the king would make the story. Could the wealth and reign to be, be the gain that follows me? Could the price to follow him though the cost and pain be steep? Struck by God blow by blow in the fire do i go.due the path of great reward. though the way is still at haze..Brother Gil.
I stumbled on this poem about 35 years ago and have shared it over the years with many people….I find this true for how God works with women also.
I am about to publish my forst book and want to include this poem . I had thought that J.Oswals Sanders waqs the autho.
I have found your blog most useful.
Thank you so much.
Margo
Typing too fast there….’first book’
J,Oswald Sanders was the author….
Curious, How do you apply it to woman?
This poem is actually an outtake from a significantly longer poem, When God Wants a Man. A simple web search will lead you to the entire poem.
I was not familiar with the poem until very recently. My mother brought out the poem when my 3 older brothers and I gathered at my mother’s home with her to celebrate her 82nd birthday. She said to her it embodied her four sons, now grown and making our own way in life, but facing the challenges that life – and the Master Craftsman, God – provide for us to direct our development as men, as citizens of this great country, and as members, ultimately, of the Family of God.
a really beautiful and inspiring poem!
That was a great poem, Brian. Thank you!
I’m glad you like it, Josh.
So true! Thanks for sharing, Brian.
🙂