Mindy Lee Hopman

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze (Isaiah‬ ‭43:2‬ ‭NIV‬‬).

From the island, my family traveled to the deep woods to begin the summer because the fierce, refining fire of May swept in way too quickly this year. Sparks ignited and swept through our home when the pressures that came with the “busyness” of the end-of-the-school-year arrived.

Academic award ceremonies, athletic award ceremonies, and various thank-you dinners were just a few events on our family calendar. Exams took place, we celebrated graduates, and we honored students moving up to the next division.

Our boarding student traveled back to China, and the last week of May Jon and I worked through a week of professional development with the teachers and staff.

My family wasn’t burned or consumed as we walked through pressures which came with the “busyness” of May, but we were exhausted once all of the “good” was finished.

Just as an object such as gold goes through pressure to be refined to its pure substance where the value is found, a family, which is as valuable as gold, may go through some refining, but just like gold, after the refining, a family has the opportunity to come back together even stronger as one.

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 (John 16:33 NIV). 

The key to surviving the uncomfortable refining is to recognize the pressure for what it is so that our focus does not stay on ourselves, but shifts to the One who brings oneness and perfect peace.

Strength doesn’t come from comfort in this world. The culture says life should be comfortable, but an uncomfortable life reveals a need for a perfect Savior to bring oneness again and hope for eternity. True strength is found in Him.

We recognized the pressure and created time to disconnect to reconnect as one. We pitched a tent and sat around a campfire. We roasted marshmallows, made s’mores, and watched in awe as the stars illuminated the sky.

Because watching a fire burn is more relaxing, satisfying, settling, and bonding than watching anything connected to electricity.

It took a little while to unwind and for the tired and grumpy words to go and the kind words to come again. Hiking has a way of clearing your mind. You have to focus on the next step because if you don’t, you could trip on a root or rock and tumble-down the trail.

We hiked. We camped. We laughed. We rested.

The settling in together again as one in Him after the refining made our hearts content to just be.

But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption (1 Corinthians 1:30 NASB).

God wants us to seek His face and trust Him as He leads us through the fire because He will lead us through. Our Heavenly Father protects us, cares for us, and loves us since we are His own.

While God preserves His people in Him, He takes the pressure and places it directly in the fire and the burning wood consumes it.  In exchange, He fills our hearts with contentment in Him and pure joy!

A deep richness of living life in Him comes after the refining.
The value is peace-filled and eternally priceless.

Are you in a difficult time or feeling hard pressed on all sides? May you find some time this season just to be one in Him. May you disconnect from the “busyness” to reconnect as one to the One who offers righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. You will never regret the time you invest to shift your focus from self to Savior. 

Many Blessings,
Mindy