Full-Circle Moments: God Wants to Refine Your Story

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The Refinement Process

When I hear the word “refine,” I think of sea glass. My friend Ann uses sea glass in her artwork to depict the refinement process. With a history of alcoholism in the family, Ann was attentive to the chipped, sharp bottles left behind at the beach. That rough glass breaks into shards and delicately glides into the ocean waves. The rough edges scrape against the seafloor – the rocks, the sand, the water. They withstand the varying speeds of the current. When we find sea glass washed up on shore today, we don’t see the bottles or rough textures. We see the smooth stones that are now pleasant to hold. Ann uses her ministry to raise awareness about the dangers of alcoholism, while preaching the truth of the gospel and God’s refining process. She shares the hope of recovery, just like the transformation of sea glass. God’s refinement process isn’t easy, but it’s what’s best for us. And He wastes nothing.

When we experience full-circle moments, God often wants to refine us through sanctification. In other words, God has already set us apart for His glory and His kingdom. We, in obedience, turn from our sin and seek a life of purity in Him. Like the sea glass, we start with rough edges (sin). When we let the Living Water wash us clean, we get smoothed out (refined; purified of our sin).

In the Old Testament, a man named Job lost everything. He didn’t know why. Scripture tells us that the enemy was seeking to bring Job away from God, yet Job didn’t renounce his faith. He trusted God’s refining process, declaring:

“But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.” - Job 23:10 (ESV)

“But He knows the way that I take [and He pays attention to it]. When He has tried me, I will come forth as [refined] gold [pure and luminous].” - Job 23:10 (AMP)

Job acknowledges that God knows his path. God has all the answers, even when we don’t. Job was confident that, from the testing, he would become stronger and more pure from the refinement process. 

In those times, gold was heated to liquid form, so that the impurities would rise to the top. The goldsmith would scrape the excess metals away, so all that remained was the pure gold. People didn’t desire something contaminated; they treasured the untainted, authentic gold. In its own way, the gold had to be refined to be in its best form.

Just like with sea glass and with gold, refinement is a process for us. It transforms each of us to become more like Jesus. At the end of the book of Job, God blesses Job in double for what he lost. While we may not like to be refined, we end up better than we started.

Lord, let us not resist the refinement.

My Story

In my current situation, God has been culminating my refinement process with how I steward my time. It leads to a beautiful full-circle moment that starts and ends with His glory, His goodness, and His grace. I had to be refined in order to worship Him with my whole heart.

About 3 years ago in the post-pandemic world, I was a traveler of many towns. I played catch-up from quarantine, striving to be present at everything I could: work, workouts, church, small groups, special events, date nights, and if I had the availability, personal time. I loved the busyness. I was tired, yet thriving. I was living every answered prayer and I didn’t want to miss a thing.

This progression, over months, compounded into burnout. I suppressed my exhaustion under the facade of people pleasing. Although I tried to keep my relationship with God my highest priority, it wasn’t truly first. I loved others selflessly, but I didn’t respect my own needs and I neglected God’s command to rest.

The refining process changed me in ways I couldn’t have imagined. I experienced deeper healing through wise, spiritually mature friendships, counseling, and prayer. I set limits with what I give my time to, who I spend my time with, and what my realistic capacity is in this season. If something comes in the way of my relationship with God, I’m no longer afraid to decline a commitment or invitation.

And before I knew it, I was busy again. Things weren’t exactly the same, but my weekly routines kept me going places and doing things. My schedule now served as a test: With the refining work done in me, would I repeat my past mistakes or would I grow from the experience? Would I make time to rest and keep God first? Would I strive for man’s approval or live from my acceptance in Christ?

I chose to stick to my boundaries and live out a balance of doing and being. Where I used to strive to check off everything on my to-do lists, I now appreciate resting – abiding in God’s presence, relaxing with family and friends, and not pushing myself to be present for every single opportunity. I know that, in union with Christ, I find true rest (see Matthew 11:28-30). I still love helping others AND I no longer neglect my own needs.

The Full-Circle Moment

One specific full-circle moment happened through my involvement as a small group leader at church. For 3 years, I committed to teaching, writing, and praying for my friends as I operated from a place of wholeness and confidence in God. He equipped me with everything I needed. Sadly, when weariness seemed to win, I had no choice but to step back and focus on healing.

Recently, a church leader asked me if I would lead a short-term women’s group. Before I confirmed my decision or the details, I prayed and meditated on Galatians 1:10: Is this something I’m doing to people-please? To puff up my pride? What is my goal and what is my capacity?

Out of humility and surrender to God’s leading, I started the group. I have the desire, the place, and the availability to lead again. And while I may be busy, I reoriented my schedule to continue prioritizing my relationship with God. Everything else will fall into place.

I’m living with that feeling of wholeness and confidence that I had years ago when I first stepped into leadership. I’m no longer hurting. Maybe God brought this specific role back to show me how far I’ve come. I’ve been tested…and now I am gold. God is doing something in this full-circle moment. He’s bringing me back to this position to test me and to prove the progress I’ve made. He has already refined me. The work is done. God is showing me that He is a healer and His work is final. When we cooperate with God’s plans, the refining redefines us. 

Application

When God works in us, He is able to work through us. He refines us not only to bring us closer to Himself, but for us to lead others to Him. The healing process can be hard, but friend, it is worth it. In this process, also known as sanctification, God makes us more holy. Think about the sea glass, once delicate and rough around the edges, now smooth and stronger. Picture that gold, being purified from any other elements, being set apart from contaminated metals. God doesn’t want you to be the gold-brushed color jewelry you can buy at a craft store. God wants you, His prized possession, to be pure, 24-carat gold.

Maybe for you, refinement is taking place with an addiction. God is separating you from the toxic pattern, and it may hurt, but it will be for your greater good. Maybe it’s a love of money and God is setting you apart from your finances. Or isolation…God is expanding your capacity for a community that glorifies Him. Or maybe it’s pride…God is humbling you to see Him clearly.

Refinement can hurt, but it leads us to becoming whole. Testing can be tough, but it is temporary (2 Corinthians 4:17-18). God knows exactly what He is doing and it is for our greater good. There is more to our stories than what we see or feel right now. Remember, God wants to get rid of the sin in our lives, no matter how extreme the cost. He gave His Son Jesus for us, so we don’t have to stay stuck in sin (John 3:16). God allowed Jesus to be our sacrifice, to compensate for our weakness, because He loves us that much. 

As we remember our stories, God refines us to become more like Him.

Reflect

When have you gone through the refinement process before? How has God transformed you?