Going Through A Crucible?
In your crucible, you will have surprises, sometimes painful ones. They could be accident related, health related, spiritual related, etc… We all will experience different types of surprises. Often we think of surprise as a pleasant thing but it isn’t always. We often put everything that feels good in the box that is good for us and everything that feels bad in a box that is bad for us. Life is not that simple. Sometimes, the things that feel bad is actually good for us and the things that feel good is actually bad for us.
When we experience these surprises, we must be aware of the reality and the power of our enemy, don’t ever get discouraged. Do not re-act to a situation but, instead, act accordingly. Why? Because everything that we do has consequences. If you put ice out in the sun it will melt. If you put your hand in a fire, you will get burned. There is always cause and effect throughout our lives… they work together. We reap what we sow. There are results for our behavior.
We seem to think that Someone will always intervene immediately to remove the pain that results from our own actions. Many times, we experience the consequences of our own actions in order that we may understand how deeply damaging and offensive our behavior is.
Let’s take the laws about our health for example. If we abuse our bodies by failing to eat healthfully or exercise, or if we regularly overwork, this will damage and break down our bodies as a result.
Crucible of Purification:
There are 3 reasons why refining and testing may feel like a crucible.
1. We experience pain as circumstances bring wrong doing to our attention.
2. We experience anguish as we feel sorry for the wrong doing we now have done.
3. We experience frustration as we try to right the wrong we have done and to live differently.
Crucible of Maturity:
It can be quite uncomfortable and difficult to keep choosing to give up the things that have been so much a part of us. But this pruning process must happen.
When pruning plants, we only cut off branches here and there so that they can develop into greater fruitfulness. To prune, you need a sharp object that will sever. In the same way, in a crucible, we are being trimmed here and trimmed there with a sharp instrument that is cutting away things that will keep us back from growing into the person we are to be and so that we are progressive and successful in our ways and blossom into someone better than we were before. Sure, it hurts. Yes, it is uncomfortable. And YES, it is necessary.
So, if you are going through a crucible journey, know that it isn’t for nothing and that it will come to an end depending on how much has to be cut away. Be patient, be strong, be diligent, be encouraged that you are becoming a better person with a better state of mind and you are closer to fulfilling your goals and preparing yourself to accomplish them.
Join me next week as we continue to cover things that change your state of mind for the best.
Decide-Act-Change
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