by Brian Bennett
I recently stood on the shoreline of Lake Michigan for the very first time, taking it all in. The
place we visited was marked by towering bluffs that dropped steeply down the longest
staircase I’ve ever descended, finally opening to a sandy beach below. The water
shimmered crystal clear as the steady rhythm of crashing waves filled the air. One of my
favorite moments was walking along the shoreline, scanning the sand for colorful rocks
of every shape and hue that had found their resting place at the water’s edge.
What captivated me most was how smooth the rocks were. The once-jagged edges had
been softened, worn down over time by tumbling along the lake bottom, carried and
shaped by the tide. Their transformation spoke to me of the refining process the Lord
brings us through—not out of harshness, but because He loves us so fully and
completely. Just as the waves polish the stones, God reveals us as His sons and
daughters, more fully and more truly, as we walk this pilgrimage of life.
“In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer
grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your
faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may
result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”
—1 Peter 1:6–7 (NIV)
Refinement both reveals what is genuine and strengthens us to endure, equipping us to
run with perseverance the race set before us. As long as we have breath, we remain on
the journey of becoming the fullness of who we are as God’s beloved children.
Reflection Questions
- How can this truth shape the way we “go through trials” so that we grow through
them? - What is God refining in you in this season?
- How can this reality shape the way we serve and coach clients?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR, BRIAN BENNETT: Currently serving as President of Christian Coaches Network International, Brian seeks to be a blessing in the world by empowering leaders to bring their best self to their life and work. He brings management and executive perspective from his experience as the Director of the KCLI Leadership Institute, Executive Coach, & Executive Pastor. He has the privilege of coaching leaders across the sectors of business, non-profit, and church ministry. He holds an MBA, an M.A. in Organizational Leadership, and an M.A. in Christian Ministry and Leadership. He is a Korn Ferry certified Leadership Architect, a Certified Behavioral Analyst by TTI Success Insights, and a certified Professional Leadership & Life Coach by Professional Christian Coaching Institute. Brian resides in Missouri with his wife and two sons.
