Trial By Fire

I am sure that at one time or another we have all heard the story about the silversmith refining silver in the furnace or read the following verses: 

"And he shall sit [as] a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness." Malachi 3:3

"And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It [is] my people: and they shall say, The LORD [is] my God."  Zechariah 13:9


" "Takeaway the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer. " Proverbs 25:47


I think it's a forgone conclusion that as we walk through life, God calls us or desires us to walk through trials or circumstances that cause the unnecessary things to fall apart or be burned away and let the strength of character and faith in Him shine through. It is our call as Christians to demonstrate His glory and shine as lights to the world, and be the salt of the earth. 


However, knowing this does not make the situation any easier, especially when we are in the heat of the furnace or the moment, and feel like we're at the end of the proverbial rope.... or feel like we can't take another step. 


But, if we based all our decisions on feelings, we would never reach higher, run faster, or overcome adversity or push past those things that seem to keep us from victory and breakthrough. Ask any athlete, and they will tell you it is only in pushing past the physical limitations, past the soreness of muscles and exhaustion that real training begins and expertise comes. 

My pastor is fond of saying ".. the same weight that can injure or break you, can be the weight that builds you up, that strengthens you to overcome what you could not handle before.." How true this is, not only in the physical, but in the emotional and spiritual realms as well.


There is a peace that passes understanding, a strength that overcomes all the things that make us weak and feel unable to move on, a spark that is kindled, and is fanned into a roaring fire when we press forward, move deeper and continue in faith beyond what we thought we were capable of. It is that movement that expands our faith, that creates the character that will carry us into greater things, and catapults us forward to the fullness of our calling. 

The Greek word most of the New Testament writers use for faith is pistis  which is defined as " .. to persuade, being persuaded , faith, belief and confidence in certain divine truths.." ( Strong's Exhaustive Concordance and Zodhiates Lexicon)  

Persuaded of HIS Truth. 

Not ours.


See, if things always went the way we thought they should, we would never grow, never stretch beyond the borders and confines of our own limited knowledge and understanding.

Through the times we don't understand, the times we want to rail at God because of selfishness or fear of failure.. the tough times where we don't see the forest because of the trees.... it's in those times that our measure of being persuaded is growing, our faith is being stretched and He is creating in us such a greater thing than we could ever imagine or conceive that we could possess.


It's in this and ONLY in this we can even begin to understand what it really means when the Bible says: 


"For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.... And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are called according to his purpose.." Romans 8:18, 28

God wants you to get where God wants you to go more than you want to get where God wants you to go (Mark Batterson)... He really does want more and better for us than we could possibly think or imagine, and our current circumstance may look like the furthest possible place from freedom, from healing, from breakthrough or restoration... but you have to remember that we have a finite mind, and a single point of view. God is Omnipresent, and has multiple viewing points. Though we may be sweating in the furnace, He is only preparing us to be a purified, shining, regenerated vessel to pour out his Glory, and in doing so is calling us closer, further, and into greater relationship with Him.

A Few Good Men...

For the past couple of years now I have been redeeming my hour long commute every day, listening to podcasts and sometimes spending the time in prayer. It never ceases to amaze me how my pastor can be teaching on a scripture or a principle, and whatever I am reading or listening to always confirms the Word - even when I start a new author or pick up with a speaker I have not listened to in a few weeks. It's amazing how the scriptures will be identical, or the concepts dovetail one right into the next. Just another confirmation that God is working in (sometimes in spite of), and through me to accomplish His purposes.

Here are the Books I am reading right now:

Shattering your Strongholds by Liberty S. Savard

In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day by Mark Batterson - this is the book that our men's coffee group are going through.

The Everlasting Man G.K Chesterson

The Wonderful Name of Jesus by E.W. Kenyon



Besides my own pastor these are the other preachers that I am listening to right now:

Mark Driscoll

Rob Bell

Mike Erre

Mark Batterson

Matt Chandler

James MacDonald

I've been guilty of this, but don't let podcasts take the place of your personal devotion time, or other books take the place of God's Word. Use them as a springboard to elevate your faith. Listening to a good message is great, but you have to make it personal by your own searching, reading, and conversation with the Savior.