Inside Out

This past week, I prepared for an event that required ironing over 100 pieces of linen, including table runners, napkins, and overlays. It took hours and hours of work. As I ironed the silk table runners, I noticed something profound:

There’s a huge difference between ironing silk on the shiny front side versus the back.

• The front side? The heat can scorch it, make it cling, and worsen the wrinkles.

• The backside? It smooths out beautifully. The static helps, and the fabric relaxes. It yields.

  
  

Just as I must iron those silk runners with the shiny side face-down, protected from direct heat, the Lord began to show me that He irons us in the same way.

Silk can scorch if you put the iron on the visible side. It can cling, melt, or wrinkle even more if the heat hits the wrong place. The real work happens on the hidden side… the side no one sees.

God’s Gentle Touch

And the Lord showed me:

“I’m working on the inside places, not to harm the parts of you that people see but to strengthen the parts of you they don’t. I apply heat to the areas you think don’t matter because that’s where the creases live. That’s where the shaping happens. If I processed you on the surface, you’d look finished but be fragile. But if I process you underneath, the beauty I’ve placed on you won’t be ruined; it will be revealed.”

The process isn’t punishment.

The heat isn’t judgment.

It’s refinement, protection, and preparation.

Silk requires a gentle touch. And so do you.

The Value of Hidden Work

God was showing me something very specific through this simple task.

Silk is valuable.

Silk is delicate.

Silk has beauty that can be ruined with the wrong pressure, heat, or angle.

The Lord used that to say:

"I’m working on the parts of you that are hidden: your motives, your identity, your fears, your private spaces, the places you don’t broadcast. Not because the visible you is wrong, but because the visible you is vulnerable."

"If I applied pressure to the side everyone sees—the side you’re presenting, the side you’re building, the side you’re trying to perfect—you would feel scorched. You would cling to things you’re meant to let go of. You would take on more wrinkles instead of less."

"So I iron all of you from the inside. I smooth you privately so that your outward life can flow gracefully.”

Embracing the Process

God reassured me:

• You’re in a pressing season, but you’re not in a damaging season.

• You’re in a refining season, but you’re not in a breaking season.

• I’m applying heat with precision because of how precious you are.

  
  

The things we think are tedious—the quiet, unseen work—are where God is refining us. That’s where He shapes our hearts, our character, and our gifts.

Romans 8:28 reminds us: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Even when it doesn’t feel glamorous.

Even when no one notices.

Even when it feels repetitive or thankless.

We all want the outcome, but we resist the process. We want the glory, but not the pressing. We want the moment, but not the hours behind it.

The Beauty of Surrender

Every outcome depends on the process.

Rush it, and you bootleg it.

Resist it, and you struggle through it.

But surrender to the internal work, the hidden ironing? That’s where there can actually be peace.

God does not iron your life to destroy you. He irons you to reveal you.

If you let Him work beneath the surface, the grace and beauty He’s placing in your life will show outwardly in a way you couldn’t manufacture on your own.

Pay Attention to the Mundane

So today, in your mundane, tedious, behind-the-scenes moments… pay attention.

Listen. Participate. Surrender.

Because God is ironing. And when He’s done, the world will see it: smooth, polished, and full of His glory.

Trust the Process

As we navigate through life, let us remember that the hidden work is just as important as the visible. The next time you feel the heat of life's challenges, think of the silk and the gentle touch required to reveal its beauty. Embrace the process, trust in His timing, and allow God to iron out the hidden creases in your life. You are precious, and the work He is doing in you is invaluable.

Let’s lean into this journey together, knowing that every wrinkle smoothed out brings us closer to the masterpiece He created us to be.

The Importance of Patience

In our fast-paced world, patience can feel like a rare commodity. We often want immediate results. However, God’s work in us takes time. Just like the careful process of ironing silk, our spiritual growth requires patience.

When we rush through our challenges, we miss the lessons God wants us to learn. It’s in the waiting that we find strength. It’s in the stillness that we hear His voice.

Finding Joy in the Journey

Let’s not forget to find joy in the journey. Each moment spent in God’s presence, each prayer whispered, and each lesson learned is a step toward becoming who He created us to be.

Celebrate the small victories. Acknowledge the progress you’ve made. Remember, it’s not just about the destination; it’s about the journey.

Conclusion: A Call to Action

As we reflect on this process, I encourage you to take a moment today. Ask God to reveal the hidden areas in your life that need His gentle touch. Surrender those places to Him. Trust that He is working, even when you can’t see it.

Let’s embrace the journey together. Let’s support one another as we navigate the pressing seasons of life. Together, we can grow into the beautiful creations God intended us to be.