In this episode of the Engage Your Destiny podcast, host Ben Peterson shares a deeply personal and spiritual journey about pain, pruning, and God’s refining fire. From welcoming his newborn son Archer Jonathan to reflecting on overgrown bushes, Ben draws powerful lessons on why God allows messiness and suffering in our lives—and how it leads to true spiritual growth.
Through heartfelt storytelling, scripture from John 15 and Malachi 3, and a moving analogy of the silversmith, Ben explores:
- Why pruning and pain are necessary for a greater harvest
- How to stay connected to Jesus, the true Vine
- The messy reality of marriage, family, and fighting for purity
- How God refines us in the hottest flames so we can reflect His image to the world
This episode is an authentic, hope-filled reminder that even the most painful seasons have purpose, and our calling is to reflect Christ to everyone around us.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction & prayer
01:42 God’s unexpected blessings in ministry
05:31 Welcoming baby Archer & life lessons
10:44 The messy work of pruning
16:12 John 15: staying connected to the Vine
20:29 The pain before the greater harvest
24:37 The silversmith & God’s refining fire
30:41 Reflecting Jesus in daily life
35:29 Final challenge & prayer
🔥 WATCH UNTIL THE END — this message might change how you see pain, purpose, and the power of surrender.
Engage Your Destiny (EYD) is a 501(c)3 dedicated to fighting the epidemic of veteran suicide by equipping our bravest with spiritual tools for every battle.
📢 WANT TO BE PART OF THE MISSION?
❤️ DONATE TODAY: https://engageyourdestiny.org/donate-now
📕 READ THE STORY THAT’S CHANGING LIVES: https://engageyourdestiny.org/book
NEW EPISODES EVERY WEDNESDAY!
SUBSCRIBE & TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS so you never miss how faith is transforming lives in our military and beyond.
Want to see more behind-the-scenes, testimonies, or something different? Drop a comment below or leave a review!
LET’S CONNECT:
Facebook: /engagedestiny
Instagram: /engage.your.destiny
Pray.com: https://www.pray.com/benpeterson
Popular Podcasts
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.