Seasons of crucibles

Photo Credit: Peter John Maridable

"Lessons of a lifetime"

“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” – Hebrews 12:11

I must confess that each time the crucible is heated and I'm thrown in for another round, like my experiences at work, the pain is hardly bearable. 

It is a shameful pain too, because my ego and pride are revealed to me; they are the reason why their words hurt so much.

I'm itching to defend myself. But I know I must remain silent so that righteousness can complete its work in me.

Then there is fear. The fear of not being vindicated. What if God allows me to be defeated? Will I blame God or curse God? Didn't Hananiah, Azariah and Mishael say to Nebuchadnezzar, "even if God will not save us, we will not bow?

Sometimes thoughts like that frighten me.

But I remind myself that it is OK to lose sometimes as long as I make Him proud. He promised us that we will gain good things in life, double of anything we lose for His sake, but He also warned us that we would be persecuted.

So, I hold my horses. I remind myself that no matter how hot the crucible and no matter how threatening their penalty maybe, I remind myself that God is with me. And for that I am rest assured that He would appear in the midst of the flames. To loosen the bounds that represent all manner of false accusations and to numb the power of their burning furnace. 

He will not allow me to be consumed.

Another scripture the Holy Spirit brings to my remembrance is one that says, ‘perfect love casts out fear’.

He reminds me to love my accusers just as He loved those who crucified Him. And He exemplified it by praying, "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do."

Again, we're told in 2 Timothy 1:7 ESV For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

And I'll like to believe that just as Paul had said in 1 Corinthians 13:13 so it is here: the greatest of power, love, and self-control is Love. 

If I allow love to cover a multitude of sins, then I will have self-control, and with self-control power becomes inevitable.

Finally,

1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV 

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

This is comforting. God knows and sees what I'm facing now. He allowed it because He knows He has given me capacity to pass through it. 

For that I'm encouraged. I rest in that knowledge knowing He will also provide a way of escape, a means to endure the persecution. 

God is faithful. Therefore, I will be faith-full in believing and trusting His faithfulness. That He will show up in the midst of the flames.

Selah.