Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Romans 5:3-5
“Be. Just be with Me. Because you already are My son and I’m so proud of you.”
You would think just being with God, not doing anything, would be easy. Nope. Apparently I still need to lay down my feelings of needing to do things for God and take time to just BE with Him, so I can finally, consistently live from my Father’s approval instead of for it. This semester’s gonna be one of surrender, increased intimacy with the Father, and more abundant living in freedom. The growing pains have already set in. It’s easy to get confused, frustrated, and impatient with myself. But my Father’s not impatient, frustrated, or disappointed with me. He knows exactly what He’s doing and where I’m at. He’s not afraid of my mess. He says, “It’s okay, we’re gonna work through this together.” He’s my biggest fan. Cheering me on. Encouraging me to keep pushing. Keep surrendering. Keep coming to Him. Keep my eyes on Him. He believes in me a lot more than I believe in Him sometimes.
The refining process is not fun at all in the moment, but God is good. He knows what He’s doing and He doesn’t make mistakes. Weapons are forged by a repeated breaking down, molding, and rebuilding/strengthening process. Burning away impurities in the metal and beating it to make it stronger, sharper, and more durable. So the Lord, in His love, wisdom, and gentleness, does with us. Don’t be afraid of the fire. He’s with you in it and using it for your good. He’s forging you into something powerful and beautiful.
