Refined 7 times

Dear friends

I was just thinking and speaking to GOD about how my life had been since I had become a Christian.

Obviously, HE never promised us an easy life.

And probably everyone will consider their cross a particularly heavy one – or am I the only one???
Do you think you have it easy, my friend?
Or do you sometimes ask GOD why HE gave you the heaviest burden to carry?
Well, the more I speak to people, the more people I speak to who are going or have been going through phases when they weren’t sure if GOD had forgotten about them, if GOD even loved them or if GOD would bless them at all… can anyone relate??
The good thing is, we are not alone and we are in very good company!

When Jacob wrestled with GOD before HE could fully step into his blessings (Genesis 32:22-32), he didn’t even know that HE was wrestling with GOD, but one thing he knew: he wasn’t going to let go of his blessings, of his destiny, of his purpose.
That was when GOD changed his name to Israel and made him the father he was meant to be.

There are countless accounts of GOD testing his people before HE let them step into their full potential and into the plans HE had for them.
And HE always lets them go through trials and tribulations, but HE never lets them perish, instead, HE always teaches them something in their battles.
David for instance.
When he was keeping the sheep and when he was “just a shepherd”, as the bible says, a young lad, not considered much by his brothers, let alone considered a warrior, and yet, GOD had sent him a bear and a lion which were both trying to attack his sheep and he killed them both with his bare hands.
Probably not a nice experience whilst it was happening!!!
Especially not when the first wild animal came.
I wonder if David was scared?
The great king, but at the time only a young man, and from what I know about him, which is he was definitely no fool, he must have been scared – fear isn’t always a bad thing, at least I believe so, as it sharpens our senses and makes us “think on our feet” and makes us quick in our actions and responses and explore all our options whilst at the same time covering our weak spots – and perhaps that was what made him superior over the wild animal?
And then the second time, he had a reference experience to draw wisdom from – this probably made it a little easier for him to succeed, don’t you think?
When he finally faced Goliath, it must have crossed his mind that it would be entirely possible for him to win this – as he had already defeated a bear and a lion with his bare hands, and now, he even had his sling which he knew how to use so well, and most of all, he knew that GOD was on his side – he knew what that felt like and he knew when he was called by GOD for a battle and when he was called to win!
He even announced it and proclaimed GOD the very second before his glorious victory!

This is such a good example of the process GOD uses to elevate us, to train us and to take us to the next level.

And I believe HE always uses this kind of process.

A situation where we almost died – literally or in a transferred sense – and came out stronger on the other side, with a knowing that we can conquer this situation, even if nobody else is able to conquer it, let alone so much more than we had been able to tackle this particular challenge before.
And it will change us – every time!

I don’t think anyone would opt for a challenge like this – be attacked by a lion.
And yet, it was exactly what it took to make David the warrior he was and to help him in this moment of destiny.
We mustn’t forget that JESUS, our savior, was a descendant of David and David HAD TO win this fight over Goliath for the world to be saved.
When we look at this from the outside, it is easy to see that GOD was just making sure that David would be equipped for this fight and that he would surely win.

When I look at my own story, I can see parallels – of how GOD deposited gifts in me and brought my talents to the surface through my trials and through my own suffering – and had he given me a choice, I would have NEVER opted to go through what I went through, not even if HE had told me that I would come out better on the other side.
That’s the thing about us – we will never choose to suffer, not even for a beneficial outcome.

The one example about my story which I can share is that it never ceases to amaze me how much compassion I have with offenders.
Often times, I seem to be the only person who isn’t scared of them or doesn’t view them as monsters – and I am absolutely sure that this isn’t because of me, but because of GOD. And other than many people who have seriously been violated, who tend to put in their energy to help victims who have had similar negative experiences, me, I have somehow been given compassion for the perpetrators, although I am also a victim, but GOD has given me the ability to see how perpetrators are – at least in my observation and experience – victims themselves – always.
Had I not been so severely violated, I would have never dug so deep….. and mind you, of course nobody would ever choose to learn this the way I have learnt it!
But here’s GOD using what I now know and giving me this gift and this ability to relate to the prisoners I work with and speak to them and listen to them and give them the respect they often find nowhere else and thus helping them heal and change in a way that surprises them….. a grace to minister to this client group – and this most definitely comes from GOD.
Because me I know myself, and I don’t have this compassion and patience with everyone!
In fact, I am very easily annoyed with “normal people”, co-workers, managers, even brethren in the congregation – when they do or say something, I am often times very judgemental – either in my head or even openly – but when “my guys” do or say something, I am completely calm and compassionate and only focused on a positive solution, never ever annoyed!
I am able to express, demonstrate and minister GOD’s love to them.

HE is working on me…to extend my ability to do that to other “clients”…………….:-)

The other aspect is the wrestling and the crushing and I have been forced by GOD to learn how to let HIM break me, break my hip.
I have been in so many situations where I was ashamed, empty, poor, desperate, powerless and hopeless – only to find that GOD made a way every single time.
And each time I came out on the other side, not only had I learnt something, but also had GOD taken me to the next level – like Jacob and David.

I came to see that GOD likes to purify and refine us in the fire – like the silver and gold HE speaks about in

Psalm 12:6
And the words of the LORD are flawless,
like silver purified in a crucible,
like gold refined seven times.

My dear friend, I don’t know what you are going through, nor where you are going or coming from, but one thing I know:
GOD will work out everything for your good – just as HE will for me!
HE is a good GOD who cares for HIS people, a FATHER looking after his children and there is no need to worry or fret, even if this feels like we are perishing, we aren’t – and GOD’s got us!

I hope and pray that this will inspire, encourage, heal and bless you. And that THE LORD will bless you abundantly in all areas of your life, that HE will keep you and shine HIS face upon you and bring you PEACE. In JESUS’ name I pray. AMEN.

photo credit: bornagainandblessed dot blogspot dot com