A metalurgist once told me that in making steel the cooling process is almost as important as the heating. If the cool-down is too fast, it can cause tiny cracks in the metal that lead to metal fatigue. That’s why the newly smelted steel is placed in baths until it attains uniform temperature, and then allowed to cool slowly in the air until it reaches room temperature. This process ensures that the steel has sufficient strength throughout.
Now, we all know that difficult times refine our characters just like smelting refines metal. That’s why the Bible says: “When he has tested me, I shall come through as pure gold.” But we may not be so familiar with the idea of cool-down periods. Those frustrating times of waiting, when nothing seems to be happening, are also part of the Great Refiner’s process in making us strong.