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One of the misconceptions about following Christ, is that everything will be perfect in your life. However, nothing is perfect in life! It does not matter whether you are following Christ or not. However, following Christ will teach you how to handle situations and teaches you how to persevere. When you choose to follow Christ, you fight between your old nature and the new nature inside of you. You fight to resist the temptations that you would normally give into which creates a Fiery Ordeal. An ordeal that will make you feel like you are burning on the inside. Burning that is produced by the friction of an old solution rubbing against a new solution to your problems. Some of us may have turned to
sex,
drugs,
over spending,
over eating,
cutting,
under eating,
or fighting
to escape the pain of a situation. Needless to say, you do not have to turn to the old solutions to handling your problems. Praying and reading the bible will be your new solution to your internal problems. The people around you may reject you because "you are acting different." They may say, "Oh, you acting new new!" This can be hard because you do not want to lose relationships (friends or family). However, people will come and go in your life. People are brought into your life for a day, season, or forever! So, it will be OK! The troubles in our life will shape us like we are on a potter's wheel. The bad times will teach us a lesson that we will need along this Christian life journey! Just stay on track and do not be surprised by your Fiery Ordeals!
1 Peter 4:12
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial that has come upon you, as though something strange were happening to you.
1 Peter 1:6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in various trials,