“I have refined you, but not as silver is refined, I have refined you in the furnace of suffering.” – Isaiah 48:10

We all face opposition, setbacks and difficult challenges. And in the interim, it’s easy to think that God has deserted you. You may be tempted to think God has forgotten about you. But that’s far from the truth.

God uses your tests and trials for your greater good. He can use the storms of life to refine you.

The word refine simply means to reduce to a pure state. To remove all impurities. It means, fine- delicate- elegant and polished.

It’s interesting, silver and gold is put through the fire to be reduced to it’s pure state. The less impurities they have the more valuable they are. In the same way, God is putting you through the fire to refine you.

Notice, today’s scripture doesn’t say, “I have refined you through the physical fire.” No, it says you’re being refined through the furnace of suffering. He’s putting you through His refining fire. He’s polishing you.

In other words, He’s dotting all your “I’s” and crossing all your “T’s”. God wants you to be complete in every area of your life. When you come out of your struggles, you’ll be polished, elegant, and free of all impurities. You’ll be well able to take on bigger and better things.

Friends, just like the Three Hebrew boys, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, you may go into the fire bound but you’re going to come out loose.  Although they went through the physical fire, God has a different type of fire for you. His refining fire will purify you!

Face your opposition with the boldness and confidence that God is doing a great work in you. When you come out, you’re going to be stronger, better and well equipped to handle any challenges that may come your way. Accept your hardships in faith. When you do so, God will cause everything to work out for your greater good as you charge forth on your journey of life!

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