Feeling the Heat

This week my mind has experienced information overload! But, this appears to happen on a daily basis.
All that I have believed to be true, things that I have been taught since my childhood is undergoing major testing right now. I feel as if all my "beliefs" and "traditions" are undergoing a time of refinement. This process as you can imagine is extremely painful and it offends my pride. Sometimes, these feelings and thoughts appear in my mind attempting to convince me that I am only moving backwards. But, I must deny these thoughts because their voice is contrary to truth. Ironically, truth says that I'm moving forward. Truth is telling me that this experience is not spinning me backwards. Instead, I am being propelled forward.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith--more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire-- may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls."
--1 Peter 1:3-9.