This article
is especially for those of us who are fighting huge obstacles daily, or even
every minute of our lives. It doesn’t matter what kind of setbacks we’re
talking about; they can all lead to the same kind of feeling:
- Anxiety
- Hopelessness
- Rage
- Stress
- Depression
We hurt.
Life hurts. We want the pain to stop; it’s more than we can bear. Just give us at least a temporary break,
plllllllease!!!!! Hold back the waterfall of trauma for a minute and give us
some breathing room!
One Purpose of Trials: Growth and new
Life. Really!
The Bee
There’s a
story about bees in space. Astronauts took some bees up to see how they reacted
to a zero-gravity environment. At first,
the bees were buzzing around happily. They were probably relaxed. It was the
first time they had been able to fly without working hard.
The Result: They died after four days
because their bodies became weak—especially their wings.
The Butterfly
There's another
tale about a kind boy who wanted to help a butterfly emerge from the pupa
it had created as a caterpillar. He broke open the pupa and gently took the newly-formed
butterfly out. He thought he was doing the butterfly a big favor.
The Result: The butterfly died soon
because it didn’t have the strength to fly.
It had needed to strengthen its wings by breaking open the pupa.
Piano Playing
Performance of any kind can be anxiety-producing. My daughter, Caitlin, and I are both
sensitive people as well as hobby pianists. For years, when we played, our
hands trembled, and we lost focus. This is not unique to us, either. I’ve
talked to others who have been through the same challenges. We didn’t allow our
feelings overcome us, though; we didn’t stop playing.
The Result: Caitlin has performed in our church. She has
one piano student. I am the pianist for our Kids’ Church organization. I also
play occasionally for the residents at my place of work.
Pottery
Beautiful pieces of china all start out as blobs of clay. Obviously, they
cannot be allowed to stay in that condition. Unformed, unbaked clay isn’t of
much practical use in everyday life beyond entertaining kids. Here are some of
the steps to making pottery:
- The clay is pressed, squeezed, and shaped to release any bubbles.
- It is pounded by hand or put on a wheel. During this time, the potter pushes his thumbs and fingers into the clay to mold it.
- The pottery is decorated.
- The final product is fired in a kiln in order to make it hard and strong.
My Conclusion
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face
trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces
perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and
complete, not lacking in anything.”—James 1:2-4 (NIV)
Joy in the
face of trials?! Hang in there. That fiery furnace of affliction is making you
into a masterpiece of fine china. You need the power that only the refiner’s
fire can provide.
Related Posts
How are you being shaped into a
masterpiece?
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