Perhaps all of life can be seen as a type of refining crucible. Certainly even the normal challenges of work, marriage, and sexuality, for instance, provide ample opportunities for us to expose our blind spots and grow into better versions of ourselves. But at other times we’re faced with more acute challenges that invite us into a spiritual crucible.
For example, Jesus being led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tested by the devil can be seen as a type of crucible. And, to be sure, what he had to endure on the way to the cross is another clear example. Whether from without or within, in both situations he was tempted to either take matters into his own hands apart from the Father, or to continue submitting his will to the Father’s.
And this is the same test we are confronted with as we face our various temptations as well. We’re tired, exhausted, and at our wits end, and it seems only right that we should be able to indulge in whatever happiness we can find. But it’s here we must decide who we want to be and if we’re willing to trust God even still.
This is a spiritual crucible because it pushes us out of our comfort zone and allows the transformation of our hearts to continue taking place. When we exercise our faith even in these dark moments then our hope deepens and our love grows. We’ve proven ourselves that we can be entrusted with even greater opportunities in God’s kingdom.
But we’re prone to bitterness and resentment when we see these moments as spiritual traps – believing we’re just set up to fail. And, of course, evil would love to use it as a trap to take us out. We’re in a better position to rise to the occasion when we can see them as the crucibles they are.
In the end, your temptations invite you into a spiritual crucible – an opportunity for your faith to be refined and for you to grow into the fullness of who God has called you to be.
Photo by Akshay Gill on Unsplash
