As I read my favorite blogs and see status updates on facebook, I am reminded that there are many people going through struggles right now. In the book I am reading right now, "The Refiner's Fire" he calls these troubles crucibles.
He explains how a crucible is a small, shallow metal dish that he remembers balancing on top of a black metal tripod. And that the Bunsen Burner would have a fierce flame that would be aimed at the dish (or crucible.) Then they would put different things into the dish and see what the reaction would be.
Well in our lives that is what happens to us as well.
I am discovering that these challenges come into our lives in order to test us and to reshape us from the inside out.
OK- back to the book. I am in chapter 3 now and Gavin Anthony lists 6 principles that will provide a little "understanding the painful discipline that God allows for our spiritual growth.
1. The suffering of a life under God's discipline is never meaningless.
2. Suffering as a result of God's discipline is an evidence of His closeness rather than the result of His abandoning us.
3. Our ability to mature spiritually under God's discipline depends on how we choose to view our suffering.
4. The ultimate purpose of God's discipline is always that we will reflect His character.
5. There is no short cut around the pain of God's discipline.
6. The blessing of God's discipline will become noticeable but not necessarily immediately."
There was a lot of really good information under each of these principles and you can read for yourself if you would like by going here. Like I said it has at least the first half of the book accessible to read.
So as you can see the crucibles in our lives can be very painful, but we are not alone and these painful experiences, if we will allow them, will produce a beautiful change from the inside out.
"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; " 1 Peter 4:12
He explains how a crucible is a small, shallow metal dish that he remembers balancing on top of a black metal tripod. And that the Bunsen Burner would have a fierce flame that would be aimed at the dish (or crucible.) Then they would put different things into the dish and see what the reaction would be.
Well in our lives that is what happens to us as well.
I am discovering that these challenges come into our lives in order to test us and to reshape us from the inside out.
OK- back to the book. I am in chapter 3 now and Gavin Anthony lists 6 principles that will provide a little "understanding the painful discipline that God allows for our spiritual growth.
1. The suffering of a life under God's discipline is never meaningless.
2. Suffering as a result of God's discipline is an evidence of His closeness rather than the result of His abandoning us.
3. Our ability to mature spiritually under God's discipline depends on how we choose to view our suffering.
4. The ultimate purpose of God's discipline is always that we will reflect His character.
5. There is no short cut around the pain of God's discipline.
6. The blessing of God's discipline will become noticeable but not necessarily immediately."
There was a lot of really good information under each of these principles and you can read for yourself if you would like by going here. Like I said it has at least the first half of the book accessible to read.
So as you can see the crucibles in our lives can be very painful, but we are not alone and these painful experiences, if we will allow them, will produce a beautiful change from the inside out.
"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; " 1 Peter 4:12
Lisa, thank you for your always kind, encouraging comments!
ReplyDeleteIt's not always easy to stay positive during trials, but it sure makes the days a little brighter knowing that we are never alone and our trials are for a purpose. :)