The Artisan’s Hand: Lessons from Cheese Making

“The Artisan’s Hand: Lessons from Cheese Making”

Isaiah 55:1-3 & 8-13 reminds us of the mystery and majesty of God's higher ways. Though we may not always understand His process, His purposes are sure, His promises steadfast. The art of cheese making offers a beautiful reflection of this truth, as God’s hand can be seen in both the kitchen and our lives.

Far away in a little kitchen in the small hamlet of Burträsk, northern Sweden 72-year-old Ann Mary is busy preparing to make cheese-a craft as ancient as it is intricate. She begins with fresh milk, quite simple and pure. Yet in its current state, the milk is fragile, prone to spoilage. To preserve and transform it, something must be added: rennet and cultures- agents unseen to the eye but essential to the process.

The milk curdles, forming curds and releasing whey. What once was whole is now broken apart. At first, this separation may seem like a loss. But as any seasoned cheesemaker Mary Jane knows, this division is not destruction—it is the beginning of transformation.

God often works similarly in our lives. His thoughts are not our thoughts, His ways not our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9). There are times when He allows breaking, separating us from comfort, certainty, or old patterns. It may feel unsettling, yet He is skilfully shaping us for something better.

The curds are then gently cut, stirred, and heated—refined through controlled temperature and time. Later, they are pressed underweight and aged patiently in cool chambers. This waiting period is vital. The flavors, textures, and richness develop unseen over weeks, months, or even years.

So, it is with God’s work in us. His timing is rarely rushed. Seasons of waiting, pressure, and quiet refinement are not wasted. Isaiah 55:11 assures us: “So is my word that goes out from my mouth: it will not return to me empty but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”

In the end, the humble milk becomes a fine cheese-full of flavor, depth, and purpose. What seemed like loss was the path to something richer and enduring. As believers, we are called to trust the Master Artisan, whose higher ways work all things for our good.

I would like to end this short meditation on the note below-

Pressed, refined, and aged in grace,
His perfect work will fill each space.