Discovery Ministries
  • Home
  • JOB OPPORTUNITIES
    • Internships
    • FULL-TIME OPENINGS
  • Retreats
    • Retreat Center
    • Adventure Activities
    • Midwest Bible Campout
  • Expeditions
    • Challenge
    • Recreation
  • Training
    • Outdoor Education
    • Missions
  • DONATE
  • Events
    • Endeavor Wilderness
    • ENDEAVOR ADVENTURE
    • Blast! Hike-a-thon
    • 40th Anniversary Celebration
    • WFR
  • Blog
  • Pricing
  • Staff
  • Resources
  • About
  • Contact

OFF THE BEATEN PATH

In Process

3/15/2018

6 Comments

 

LEAH FULLER

“Why don’t you try again?” my teacher asked as my shoulders slumped in defeat.  Augh!  I scooped up the lump of clay for the third or fourth time in the last hour, having no idea what kept happening to create such an indiscernible blob. When I had taken basic pottery classes a few weeks earlier, I had found such enjoyment in learning the art and decided to pursue more advanced lessons.  Now, doubts assailed, and I wondered if I would ever be able to produce the beautiful and unique vessels I longed to create.
           
We often slap a “failure” label on situations like this one; I saw it recently on a challenge expedition.  The first night, we had taught the students how to start a fire and cook over it.  The next morning, their shoulders slumped forward and their heads hung low in defeat after striking match after match without starting a fire.  The resignation of defeat was palpable in the air as my co-instructor prompted them with questions to help them find a solution to their problem and to keep the small flame of hope alive in their spirits.
           
I often find myself assuming this same posture in several areas of life, but particularly in my relationship with God.  I read verses like Matthew 5:48 that say things like, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect….” and my head hangs low in an attitude of defeat.  It’s as though the call to become who God created me to be is the gavel of judgment pointing out the fact that I haven’t “arrived” yet at perfection.  I see God’s methods of purification through the refining fire and assume it is to discipline or reject me.  I get so hung up in what I’m not doing well or how I see no progress being made because I want to be fully transformed NOW!!

I’m beginning to notice, though, that perhaps I’ve been looking at these things through the wrong lens.

What if the purpose of God’s refining fire was really to draw to the surface the best and deepest parts of us—those parts of us that God created with love and intentionality that have been hidden over the years by wounds and walls?  And what if that process takes time?  I like to see immediate results, but it takes time for the fire to get hot enough to purify.  You see, perfection isn’t a goal to be reached somewhere in the distant future, but is actually this process of our transformation on the journey now. 
           
God’s refining and purification isn’t for the purpose of pointing out our impurities and failures.  It serves to bring Him glory.  And, what brings glory to God is the beauty of what He is producing in me while I am in process in the fire.  When silver is finally removed from the fire, what draws your attention, the beauty of the silver or the impurities left behind in the fire?  The silver, of course.  Silver refined in the fire perfectly reflects the image of the refiner.  Isaiah 48:10-11 says “See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.  For my own sake, for my own sake, I do this.”  God is drawing out the truest parts of me in the process of the journey, enabling me to live from this place of truth.  He knows that I’m not perfect…yet!  And He loves me just as much in process as He will love me later in my life when these struggles have faded away and others have risen to the surface.  God’s love is most evident in our journey of transformation.  That journey, while painful at times, is a journey designed to draw out God’s overwhelming intentionality as the Creator, calling us to perfection and patiently staying with us on our journey to become more like Him.  In fact, the journey is what He created us for; it is where we live out the Kingdom of God. 

By the end of the eight-day trip, the same students who nearly gave in to the posture of defeat were able to start a fire with one or two matches for most meals.  Not succeeding immediately made it clear that they would not be able to succeed in their own power.  They were on a journey, and over the course of the week filled with struggle and experience, God used the refining necessary to bring about success that ultimately defined their journey. 

I look forward to the day when I can take a lump of clay in my hands and shape it into a useful, beautiful vessel.  Until then, as I awkwardly learn the skill of working the clay, I can find enjoyment in the stages of learning, patiently growing to develop a new skill. Likewise, I can trust that in process God is not disappointed, rather His love overflows.

“We went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance” (Psalm 66:12).  ​​
6 Comments
Julie Koch
3/15/2018 08:14:48 pm

Thank you Leah for sharing that so true and encouraging word.I will share this with Isaiah😊

Reply
Cami
3/16/2018 08:06:38 am

Leah, I have learned so much from your writing. Mostly to be patient with myself and never give up when I don't feel productive for the Lord. Thank you.

Reply
Cynthia
3/16/2018 10:04:54 am

Thank you. This is an inspiring read with great thoughts to ponder on. I'm one who has little patience, and I do enjoy immediate results, but I know my faith is always there to lean on and trusting my Lord, my life experiences always result in a positive way sooner or later. It's not for me to worry about, trust God.

CYN... ITLBFNE. (It'll be fine)

Reply
Wendy Huntley
3/20/2018 12:09:02 pm

Hi Leah,
I love what you share and how you write your thoughts.
I so agree that this life is a continual process of transformation, and that God loves us all the way through it. I'm like you that I want all the refining to be done right now, but that's not what our patient Father offers us. Instead it's life long.
I have been taking watercolor classes and expect to be able to produce a masterpiece with only a smattering of classes! So thank you for your illustration of throwing pots. It's such a process requiring time and patience, and so rewarding if we continue on journey.
Much Love, Wendy

Reply
Drew Welch
3/29/2018 01:58:04 am

Thanks for the encouragement to find joy throughout the entire process of sanctification in Jesus! We don't have a "someday hope" that has yet to be seen, but because of Jesus we have a "today hope!" as we are shaped more and more like Him. God's love really does endure through all things.

Reply
Krista link
5/22/2022 04:34:53 am

Loved readinng this thanks

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Come along side us as we journey in and out of the wilderness, discovering our Creator in creation.

    Archives

    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Contact Us

Email
contact@DMchallenge.org
Address
17043 State Route E
Eminence, MO 65466
Phone
573.226.3213
​866.307.1947
Picture
Picture

  • Home
  • JOB OPPORTUNITIES
    • Internships
    • FULL-TIME OPENINGS
  • Retreats
    • Retreat Center
    • Adventure Activities
    • Midwest Bible Campout
  • Expeditions
    • Challenge
    • Recreation
  • Training
    • Outdoor Education
    • Missions
  • DONATE
  • Events
    • Endeavor Wilderness
    • ENDEAVOR ADVENTURE
    • Blast! Hike-a-thon
    • 40th Anniversary Celebration
    • WFR
  • Blog
  • Pricing
  • Staff
  • Resources
  • About
  • Contact