Understanding Why I Have to Walk Through Fire

In review of Isaiah 48:10 this morning, I'm reminded that, “I (God) have refined you, but not as silver is refined. Rather, I have refined you in the furnace of suffering.” (NLT)

I often find it easy to complain, grumble, or have my own pity party when life becomes complicated or difficult. Why does a loving God allow all kinds of unpleasant experiences to come to me? This verse shows me plainly that God tests me in the "furnace of suffering." Rather than complain, my response should be to turn to God in faith for strength to endure, and to rejoice in my suffering. Without testing I would never know what I'm capable of doing, nor would I grow. Without the refining, I would not become more pure and more like Christ. So as I face adversity and suffering, I need to seek God and embrace his refining work in my life.

What’s got me tied up? What’s limiting me from being all God meant for me to be? What I’m learning is that God uses the trials in my life to eliminate what’s holding me back.

I don’t like those times when things are stressful, deadlines are coming too fast, and expectations seem unreachable. But God uses heat in my life to burn off the stuff that’s tying me down. I just need to trust God through the pain.

God says in Isaiah 48:10, “I have refined you, but not as silver is refined. Rather, I have refined you in the furnace of suffering” (NLT).

It’s unlikely I’ll literally go through a fiery furnace, but I will go through the furnace of suffering many, many times. But God promises to refine me with that fire.

It’s like silver and gold. When it’s heated up, all the impurities are burned off, and I’m left with 100 percent gold or silver. When silver is pure, you can see your reflection while looking into the cauldron. Likewise, God knows I’m purified when he can see his own reflection in me, because I look more like Jesus Christ. Only the fire can do that in my life.

In summary, God refines me, but not as silver is refined. Rather, he refines me in the furnace of suffering. Rather than complain, my response should be to turn to God in faith for strength to endure, and to rejoice in my suffering. For without testing I would never know what I'm capable of doing, nor would I grow. So seek God and embrace his refining work in my life. Also God uses the trials in my life to eliminate what’s holding me back. I don’t like those times when things are stressful, deadlines are coming too fast, and expectations seem unreachable. But God uses heat in my life to burn off the stuff that’s tying me down. I just need to trust God through the pain. In my life I will go through the furnace of suffering many, many times. But God promises to refine me with that fire. When silver is pure, you can see your reflection while looking into the cauldron. Likewise, God knows I’m purified when he can see his own reflection in me, because I look more like Jesus Christ.

Sometimes I feel like I’m getting the short end of the deal. Certain things haven been taken away that I perceived as accomplishments and maybe even pride and prestige. I now have to be even more accountable and not just trusted to do what I think best. In light of today’s study, I see now where God is using the trials in life to burn off, and eliminate what’s tying me down or holding me back from being what he had made me to be. Father, thank you for speaking to me personally and helping me with my understanding. I will turn to you and embrace the refining work you are doing in my life. 

I pray this morning that through the Holy Spirit that I turn more to you and embrace what I’m going through at work to help burn off and eliminate what holds me back from being useful to you. I ask you today for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership and my interactions with others. May what I do and say be full of grace, patience and of assistance to others. I ask these things through your Son Jesus name, Amen.