Embracing the Refinement

Ken Rice

As I have been spending more time at home lately, along with the rest of the country, I’ve had more quiet time. The fewer distractions and interactions has given way to opportunity for God to bring things to the surface. Things that in my mind were taken care of, resolved, or maybe better off left alone.

I’ve been pondering in the silence and having conversations with my family that have awakened thoughts, emotions, and questions. Personal questions having to do with my journey, my calling and career, and my major choices in life.

I’ve been thinking about who I am, at my core. What makes me tick? Why do I respond the way I do? Why do I feel strongly about certain things and not others? Why do I deeply desire some people’s approval? What kind of husband, father, and friend am I- and why?

I wonder other things about myself. Why is it that after 48 years, 36 of those following Jesus, do I still struggle with insecurity, jealously, and resentment? Why is personal discipline easy in some aspects of my life and difficult in others? I know, some of you are probably thinking, Ken, you need professional help! Believe me, I know and I have spent time receiving it. No shame here!

I don’t know if you can relate to any of these questions and are, yourself, experiencing similar thoughts and feelings. Maybe being cooped up in your home is exposing all kinds of family issues and dysfunctions that your previously busy lifestyle camouflaged. Either way, what I want to encourage you with is this: I’m convinced that in all these questions and dysfunctions that are being surfaced, God is right in the midst of us. He is gently, and sometimes not so gently, addressing these issues in order to bring true healing and resolve.  Jesus continues to work as he promised by making us more like him.

“And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.” (2 Corinthians 3:18b)

For the most part, I’m thankful to God for this opportunity of a slower pace with less noise. I want to encourage you to embrace it as well, because it won’t last forever. Allow God to surface what He wants in your life. Give Him space and permission to bring health and healing to your person and to your family.

I don’t know if God brought COVID-19, but I do know that he won’t waste it.” -Jim Ladd

God won’t waste this time as an opportunity to conform us more into the image of His Son, Jesus.

Embracing the refinement,
Ken Rice