Beauty in the process

I’m not sure if it’s just me, but when I think about times God has done something amazing for me I tend to focus solely on the ‘aftermath’. For example, God delivered me from depression. The thing I deemed as ‘amazing’ or ‘beautiful’ was the depression leaving but never appreciated the process by which the depression left.

Don’t get me wrong, it is great when God delivers you from something you never thought you could beat, but why should we only acknowledge Him for the final product?

Most times our minds trap us with the fact that the devil is throwing different circumstances at us to test us, but we forget that God will not allow us to be tested more than we are equipped to handle (1 Corinthians 10:13) Meaning that before that problem arose the Lord approved it, so it is going to work out for our good.

Take for example the story of Job in the bible; God even referred him to the devil to be tested. Some might question God saying “why would he put Job out there like that” or even go as far as telling God not to refer them. Yea I was one of those people..

But, He changed my mindset

God has been working on me lately on the power and blessing attached to the process. Honestly, I sometimes would much rather skip the process and fast forward to the part where I overcome, why? Well, those who have been through it or are going through it could probably also testify that pruning is painful.

Pruning is defined as the cutting away of things that are dead or overgrown in order to increase fruitfulness and growth.

As a believer it is necessary to be pruned by the Lord because not only were we born sinners, but for some of us prior to giving out lives fully to the Lord, and/or even during our walk with the Lord we have acquired some STUFF. If God doesn't cut off those things that are stunting our growth then no fruit would be produced; we would practically be useless, like nails with no hammer.

It’s just like running track; there is a path you have to take to get to the finish line right? You can’t win if you don’t take the path; taking the path brings about the victory. So basically:

No path = No victory

You get the picture?

See, the process shows you what you’re made of, and who God is as well who He can be in your life. A healer, restorer, protector, deliverer and so much more! But without the process you wouldn’t be able to experience God in His entirety.

I know it hurts, and sometimes the process beats you to the ground but it cannot keep you on there because God is God in EVERY situation. Stand up, dust yourself up, and with the strength of God keep moving.

So next time you face a situation, remember that God is using the process to beautify you, to cleanse you from the innermost depths of your being, so that both on the inside and outside you are a spitting image of Him.

Romans 5:2-4
“ through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we[b] boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we[c] also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us”

Don’t wait till the finish line to give God praise thank Him from the starting line till the finish line for how magnificent He is.