Embrace The Pain!
The gears of my mind are moving painfully slow, their metallic cogs grinding and twisting as I search for my next move. I reach out, uncertain and filled with doubt, second-guessing and third-guessing my choices. I hesitantly retreat as the weight of the piece overwhelms me—it feels too heavy to maneuver. Finally, I summon the courage to act: bishop takes pawn. But just as I relax in relief, I notice with dismay that I overlooked his piece attacking my queen, and she is lost. Ugh! I carelessly lost my queen, the most powerful piece on the board. The game is now undoubtedly lost, and I’m left here, seething with frustration. Chess is an intellectually taxing game, one that I supposedly enjoy… Or do I?
If I honestly analyze my enjoyment of chess, I’ll discover that it’s victorious outcomes I truly relish. You can keep the losing part. It’s a shame, really. Why can’t I simply find joy in the game itself, independent of the final result? Why can’t I gracefully accept defeat and find contentment in the fact that I’m here, savoring a morning of chess with my friend? Why does repeated loss push me to the brink of frustration?
Well, the answer is that I idolize winning. It is these mornings with my friend that have made this more and more evident. This is painful and frustrating to admit, but I guess the writing has always been on the wall.
And now I find myself here, contemplating a topic that holds significant importance for all followers of Christ—the “joys” of being sanctified. It is a road we all must walk as Christians, even when God places the importance of our sanctification above our attachment to specific idols. The truth is, if we genuinely want to become more like Jesus, we must learn to embrace this transformative process wholeheartedly. Humiliation is often the tool He uses, and it can be incredibly painful. I wish I could wholeheartedly embrace the wonder of God’s work in my life, but at the end of the day, I realize I fall short, not just in chess, but in many other areas.
I’d liken the feeling of being sanctified to that of a dirty shirt being tossed around inside a washing machine. I’m the dirty shirt, and the sanctifying process is the machine. The challenges of life often leave me feeling overwhelmed, battered, and frustrated. However, even amid this relentless turmoil, there’s always a fragrance of hope that draws me back to joy.
As my trust in God grows, I derive comfort from the truth that the ultimate outcome of this process will be nothing short of glorious. Surprisingly, a single loss can hold more value than a thousand wins. It is through experiencing defeat in life that we are propelled towards glory. It is through these losses that we ultimately find victory in Christ, as we grow to recognize the depths of our own weaknesses in the light of His magnificent grace.
We must never forget that the dirty shirt in the washing machine, enduring the tossing and turning, will eventually be pulled out clean and ready for use. Every bump and bruise we experience along the way is utilized to transform us into the image of Christ. Not a single swirl or splash of tears will be wasted as we are shaped from uselessness into suitable vessels for honorable work—His work, His ministry.
Amidst our struggles, it is crucial to remember that God has a marvelous plan for each of us. He exercises complete control over every twist and turn, every swirl and splash, and even every instance of a lost queen in our lives.
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
Romans 8:28
Lord, I pray that I will not shy away from the pain of the sanctification process. I long to embrace it with an open heart. Help me deepen my belief that this transformative work will lead to greater glory. I know You will be with me through every swirl and splash in the washing machine of life. Help me remember that You have a purpose in every trial. You are shaping, refining, and molding Your people into vessels of honor. Lord, grant me the strength to press on, to endure to the end, with full confidence in Your promise of an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison (2 Corinthians 4:17). And if You could also help me defeat my friend at chess sometimes, that would be quite welcome.
In Him, with love
mike
P.S. I want to make it clear that I fully understand that losing a game of chess pales in comparison to the trials that many people face. Nevertheless, I am certain that the truths we discussed still apply. My hope is that I will remember these truths when the Lord is guiding me through something more challenging.
