“When through fiery trials thy pathways shall lie,
My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.”
-John Rippon-
Adversity, suffering and extreme on-going hardships that we face, can become like “fire” in-that it could and [sometimes] may destroy us. Suffering within our life on earth, is commonly used by our Creator to refine, strengthen, and beautify us. How?
In the eyes of our Creator, each living soul is significant, invaluable and precious ,far greater than anything that He has created. He has a vested interest in providing each person ample life-changing events to empty each of us into “the fire’s of life” to soften, melt our “hearts” from all impurities that are designed at destroying all the dark and blind hidden things within us.
When “life happens” our true identity is revealed as “impurities of our souls just as it is true as a furnace draws the impurities out of unrefined metal ore. The fire as it works on gold, suffering can destroy some things within us and equally can purify and strengthen other things within our character.
Bring on The Fire
What are some of the things that may be learned when “life happens?”
- Discovered personal strengths/limitations/weaknesses.
- Empathy, compassion and increased skills directed toward assisting other who are hurting.
- Increased intimacy and trust in our Creator “walking with you” through the Fire.
- Reformed, realistic worldview that is balanced.
If and when your struggle overcomes you, your family; please be mindful of the life and struggle of Jesus from Nazareth. Do all that you can do to read in the Holy Scriptures, about every aspect of what He who was sinless submitted to for us as our Savior and our living example that overcoming is indeed, possible if we are spiritually connected to Him.
My prayer for those who are right in the midst of your own furnace, to refuse to be destroyed! Let the complete aspect of your trials/testings/temptations produce it’s perfect work. Learning to walk with our Creator during these times is all-so-important. Consider the words of David when he stated:
The eyes of Adonai [Lord] watch over the righteous,
and His ears are open to their cry.
The righteous cried out, and Adonai [Lord] heard,
and He save them from all their troubles.
Adonai [Lord] is near those with broken hearts;
He saves those whose spirit is crushed.
The righteous person suffers many evils,
but Adonai [Lord] rescues them out of them all.
Psalms 34:15,17-19
Grace and Peace
Alonzo E. Thornton