Changes are inevitable - they can be a positive experience or a negative experience. It is how we handle the change that proves our worth. A few years back (during one of my ministry transitions), I had the opportunity to work at a foundry that created aluminum face plates for gas meters. It was HOT work, because I was responsible for taking the 'mistakes' and letting them melt back down into bricks so they could be reused.
That experience reminds me of our life journeys: each of us has a different function in life. Sometimes we get broken by the situations that overwhelm us. In those cases, we have to allow God to put us through the 'refiner's fire'. In the literal meaning, metals melt at certain temperatures. At the foundry, I worked with aluminum; I had to make sure the furnace got up to temperature and stayed at the right temperature to melt the aluminum.
In the spiritual sense, we are sometimes put through a spiritual fire. But, this type helps to purify our hearts: let me explain. I believe that the Lord prepares us for different functions based on our depth of faith and strength of resolve. The Bible says that "...the Lord will not put any more on us than we can handle..."
I have grown up in the church; I have enough wisdom to know that 'the Church' is more than the building. It is about the variety of personalities that walk through the doors that come together and reach out to others in their own way. Well, PERSONALITIES CLASH...there have been times when I have seen personalities clash and people cannot agree on anything. It would be easy to just leave the church: however, before making a rash decision, each should go through their own journey and know if it is permissible to leave or to stay and work it out.
I know that this post may seem confusing; but each of us is instructed to 'seek out our own salvation with fear and trembling'; whatever you might be dealing with right now, just know that I am praying that the Lord is able to help give you an answer to your dilemma. Peace!
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