The Furnace

“So he places us oft in the furnace, The dross from the gold to destroy.” -“Treat yourself!” -“If it doesn’t serve you it’s not for you.” -“I’ll make sure my kids have an easy life.” We’ve grown accustomed to comfort and putting our immediate wants over our future necessities. When the reality of life is, growth comes through pressure and heat (figuratively speaking). Adversity is like a literal weight placed upon your back that makes you stronger with each triumph. It makes you grow out of your little box and hypertrophy into a bigger better you in all aspects of life. But just as adversity grows you, comfort will kill you. Like an unused muscle, we also atrophy when we only pursue comfort. We waste time we’ll never get back, spend money we don’t have, eat the things that don’t benefit us, lay down our cause in the face of adversity, look around for our blessings instead of looking up, and let our relationships stay skin deep because really knowing someone is hard. You weren’t promised an easy life but you were promised the strength to get through your tribulations! But to realize your true potential you must go through the furnace. Though it might seem like the trial is sent to destroy, with every victory you become more valuable. Like gold being purified from its dross, the trash of your life will separate and you will come out of your furnace a stronger more valuable you. So instead of things happening to you look to them as happening for you. - Alex Franks