John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
When you clearly identify the identity that God has in mind for your life and that He intends to forge, your work is only beginning. Imagine watching the blacksmith heating the metal, beating the metal and cooling it. He does that process again and again. While if the metal was a person, they would not find the process enjoyable, they would have to acknowledge that the process is needed if they are to become the person they were designed to be. Most of us prefer the picture of God as a potter with the clay. That feels safer and definitely more comfortable. But God is forging your life into a weapon that can be used for His glory. It is rare that someone will say when things are going well, “Why me?” But it is VERY common that when things seemingly go sideways in our life that we cry out, “Why me?” Is this a helpful question?
A helpful response is more along the line of acknowledging that the process is not comfortable but is required. If we did wrong, allow God to purge the evil from within us. If we did not do wrong, God is developing something in us. Even though we have a picture of the future we need to live from moment to moment. Much like driving a car. You know your off ramp is coming a couple of miles out, so the polite driver works to get into the correct lane. Yet even though they are picturing the turn and where they need to be, the good driver is looking around where they currently are and moving over only when it is safe to do so.
In the same way the person being forged must consider what the future holds and decide who you need to be physically, mentally, spiritually, and socially. With that picture in mind get into the correct lane by taking a small step in the correct lane. You don’t need to read the entire Bible today to live your highest Spiritual self, but you should read at least one verse. You don’t need to run an ultradistance race by the end of the week, but maybe do a ten-minute basic workout today. There is no reason to graduate from college by the end of the month but maybe you should research what and where you would like to study. You may not be able to make things right in your relationships over night but you can begin by making a list of those that you need to make things right with. With your identity in mind it is time to take small steps in the direction of being the person that you long to be.
As you move toward your exit, keep your mind on the road around you, seek stability and balance and think of the process. The process is where the juice is. Develop a plan and a list of daily habits that you will need in your future life and start living them now. Many years ago I determined that part of my identity was that of a CEO. I talked to CEOs, read books and meditated on God’s Word and made list of disciplines that I would need when I was actually being a CEO. I did not wait to be a CEO to start doing those things, I started doing them right away. Mind you I did not do it perfectly and I still don’t. However, I am very consistent and the rewards are solid.
