Drew Scholl | Turning Life's Trials Into Opportunities

Ever wondered how life's toughest challenges can forge you into a leader with unbreakable resilience? Join me, Drew Scholl, on this enlightening episode of the Leaders on Fire podcast as we explore the concept of crucible moments—those intense experiences that test our limits but ultimately refine us into stronger individuals. Drawing wisdom from the scriptures and the book of James, we unpack how embracing these trials with hope and faith can transform them into powerful growth opportunities. Discover how to shift your perspective and see life's adversities not as obstacles but as stepping stones to becoming a leader on fire.

Throughout the episode, we recount the inspiring story of Florence Chadwick, a long-distance swimmer who exemplified perseverance in the face of daunting challenges. Despite failing her first attempt to swim the Catalina Channel due to harsh conditions, Chadwick's unwavering vision and determination led her to success just two months later. Her journey serves as a vivid reminder of the power of keeping our eyes on the unseen and eternal rewards of enduring life's crucibles. Tune in to learn how to harness the heat of your own trials, trusting that you're being molded into a masterpiece ready for the great things ahead.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:03):
This is the Leaders on Fire podcast.
On this show, we'll be invitingguests in to talk about
crucible moments in their livesand unpack how it developed
character and perseverance andhow they emerged as leaders on
fire.
We hope that this podcast is anencouragement and an
inspiration to you.
To you, welcome to the Leaderson Fire podcast.

(00:35):
I'm your host, drew Scholl.
Today we're going to talk aboutwhat is a crucible.
A crucible is a furnace thatmelts impurities off of precious
metals.
Scriptures use this pictureseveral times, this idea of
purifying silver, but always incontext of some type of testing
for the purpose of refining.
When God prepares a person toserve him in a leadership role
or in a specific way, for aspecific calling, he often

(00:58):
chooses crucibles forpreparation.
Now, the opening of the book ofJames he jumps right into this
issue of trials and testing.
James positions these trials,these crucible moments, to be
considered pure joy, what heopens with strong encouragement,
with the tone of hope andvictory over trials, and to

(01:19):
welcome them as a part of ourgrowth and refinement.
This is unnatural to the humanheart, as a part of our growth
and refinement.
This is unnatural to the humanheart and we would certainly
rather complain, fuss and pleadwith God to be pulled out of the
crucible of the trial.
When we're in these crucibleseasons, we simply want out.
We pray to God to get us out.

(01:39):
I've done this so many times.
And when we're in the crucible,sometimes we can't see and our
vision is reduced to thecapacity we have to deal with
what we're managing in thatmoment, just to get through it.
Life can be hard, it can squeezeus.
The heat of the crucible thatcan last days, weeks, months or

(02:00):
even years can burn up anypotential vision we had.
But it doesn't have to be thisway.
Yes, while the crucible may bepainful, may be frustrating, may
be discouraging, we can turn toJesus and muster up just enough
faith, even if it's as small asa mustard seed, to know and
trust that he is doing a goodwork in us.

(02:22):
Instead of asking God to get usout, we should ask God for
wisdom on what we're supposed tolearn.
We must believe that he's doinga good work within us and in
the midst of pain and challenge.
This certainly can be difficult, but we dig deep into our
deepest faith reserves and clingto this hope why?

(02:43):
Well, james continues and saysthat those who have endured have
been approved and there is areward when we endure the
testing.
We know that this testing ofour faith produces patience,
endurance, perseverance andgenuineness of faith.
We know that these light andmomentary troubles are achieving

(03:03):
for us an eternal glory thatfar outweighs them all.
So we fix our eyes not on whatis seen but on what is unseen,
since what is seen is temporarybut what is unseen is eternal.
Florence Chadwick is along-distance swimmer who
attempted to swim the 21-mileCatalina Channel from Catalina

(03:25):
Island to Pelos Verde,california, on July 4, 1952.
Chadwick was trying to becomethe first woman to swim the
channel, but the weatherconditions were terrible.
The ocean was icy, cold, thefog was so thick she could
barely see her support boats andsharks were nearby everywhere.
After about 14 hours in thewater, chadwick began to doubt

(03:47):
herself and asked to be pulledout.
After 15 hours and 55 minutes,when she was in the boat, they
soon discovered she had onlystopped swimming about a mile
from her destination.
Chadwick later told a reporterIf I could have seen land, I
know I could have made it.
Chadwick tried again two monthslater and succeeded, using a

(04:10):
mental image of the shoreline toguide her this time.
Think about the power of thatstory as a picture to endure and
persevere.
We must have a vision.
We must be able to know thatthe crucible is for a purpose
and to keep our eyes on thefinish line.
What is the vision?
We must keep in view that, inChrist, we are his masterpiece.

(04:32):
His word teaches us that he'sprepared good works in advance
for us to do.
And as we go through thesecrucible moments, we don't lose
heart.
Remember that you are hismasterpiece and that he has
great things planned for you todo.
So when does the crucible end?
Well, a silversmith knows thatthe silver is ready to come out
of the crucible when he can seehis reflection.

(04:54):
Likewise, with God, he willremove us from the crucible when
we are reflecting his image,when we are ready for the
assignment.
When we emerge from thecrucible, we emerge as a leader
on fire, ready for what he hasnext for us.
So does this mean that we waituntil we are out of the crucible
to have impact?

(05:14):
No, sometimes our best impactin others is during these
crucible moments, when we'restruggling the most.
Remember, paul says that Christis making his appeal through us
, that we are his ambassadors.
So this remains true, whetherin the challenges of a crucible
season or on the highs ofabundant thriving, jesus is

(05:36):
asking us to go all in.
He's asking us to put our handto the plow and not look back.
He's asking us to burn ourships, with no reserves, no
retreats, no regrets.
Why?
Because we know that he will doimmeasurably more than all we
ask, think or imagine, accordingto the power of Christ in us.

(06:01):
Thank you for listening totoday's episode.
Perhaps it has prompted apainful memory or challenged you
to reflect on times you were inthe crucible.
Some of you may be in acrucible now, but be encouraged.
Maybe, just maybe, god is usingthis to refine your character
so that you emerge as a leaderon fire.

(06:22):
If today's episode was anencouragement to you, share it
with others who may also findencouragement in the Leaders on
Fire podcast.
So let's go into the world sentout as leaders on fire.
Until next time, thank you.