I like a song by Hawk Nelson that says God “is making diamonds out of dust” when the pressure is on. Well frankly, as of late, I feel like I am being refined in the fire of life.

There is, and has been, quite a bit that has been swirling around me over these last few years. I have had not one but two opportunities to actually summarize the events since 2014 over the course of 2 days to explain either “my stress level” or how God has carried me through…depending on who was listening.

As I listed said events and added to that pile my current situation, I cannot help but feel affirmed that there is a purpose for it all.

My experiences have not been “let’s make a movie out of your life” tragic, but they have been constant and fairly oppressive at times as I had to learn to work through each one.

For me, the process looked like:

• Being angry
• Accepting what is instead of fighting against it
• Letting go and being in the moment

Trust me….it was always a struggle and a process!!

Reading my Bible this morning, I see something in Jeremiah that echoed in me.

Now, I have been saying lately to a loved one that I identify with Jeremiah the prophet…feeling as if I could “be” a weeping prophet too…

He agreed as he says I cry alot when I speak….whatever.

But here we are with something that completely resonates with meaning for me in regards to the suffering of Jeremiah.

Jeremiah calls to God for relief and essentially God’s response is “buddy, if you think this is bad, what are you going to when times get really tough?”

Ugh.

Jeremiah 12:5 If racing against mere men makes you tired, how will you race against horses? If you stumble in the open ground, what will you do in the thickets??

My life looks as different from yours as yours does from your neighbor…that’s ok because we are all created for different things. We have different life skills and opinions because our God is a creative Lord who enjoys variety!

That being said, I am being led into the direction of some form of ministry leadership. That Call puts me on a specific path of training to equip me to handle certain things I will encounter in the future.

If I stumble now how will I function then?

I need to be trained to stand.

Somehow, perhaps it is seeing a purpose in the pain, I find a comfort in recognizing the process of equipping me.

Jeremiah did too.