Refined by Fire: The Strengthening of Our Faith – Understanding how trials shape spiritual maturity.

We are talking today about being “refined by fire.” What comes to your mind?

Refining by fire is a process that metalworkers are very familiar with. To purify gold or silver, they expose it to intense heat. The fire doesn’t destroy the metal, rather, it removes the impurities. 

What remains is something more valuable, more beautiful, and more durable. 

This is a very often used example or metaphor to describe the process we go through as we go through these trials and tribulations. 

As the gold is refined by fire, in the same way, God allows us to go through affliction, not to harm us, but to strengthen and mature our faith.

1 Peter 1:6-7 (NIV) says, "In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed."

Trials have a purpose? Oh yes, they do. It may be hard to accept that reasoning when you are going through the test. But as time goes by, as we mature spiritually, we must understand that, truly, our faith is being tested not just to prove that it's real, but to deepen its value in our lives and before God.

Trials are never easy. Tell me about it! 

But God never wastes pain. It’s like you are going through this rough time right now, but don’t worry, God is going to turn it into something beautiful. Of course, that is hard for us to envision, but that’s just part of the bigness of our God.

Scripture says in James 1:2-4 (ESV), "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

Truth be told, many of us hear this scripture, we recite it, but have a little bit of a problem fully embracing it.

James is challenging us to consider trials a joy and see the bigger picture: trials are producing something in us—steadfastness, endurance, spiritual completeness. 

Have you ever noticed how you learn more about God’s character in the valley than on the mountaintop? When we are on our sickbed, or when that relationship is going sour, when you are down to the wire wondering how the rent is going to be paid, where are you going to get money to pay the school fee or buy something for the children to eat…

Amidst all of that, a sister or brother in the church quotes this other scripture - Romans 5:3-5 (NLT) to you, "We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love."

Sometimes you’re in so much distress that all you can say is a weak Amen or you say to the brother/sister thank you, but you don’t understand what I’m going through. Only those in the kitchen feel the heat. This one is tough. It’s hard.

Family, we have all been there. And we really have to look back and see whether our reaction to trials has remained the same over the years or whether we have become stronger and more resilient. For we should be.

Notice the progression in that last scripture: problems → endurance → character → hope. 

We know by now that trials aren’t random. In fact, sometimes I believe trials run me down! It’s like just one after the other after the other. I don’t know how many of you feel that way.

But we are called to understand Family, that trials are designed to lead us to a deeper hope and a clearer sense of God's love.

Sometimes we think hardship means God has left us. But the truth is, He’s often the closest in the fire. 

Think of Daniel 3:25 (NKJV), when Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown into the fiery furnace: "Look!" he answered, "I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God."

God didn’t keep them from the fire—He joined them in it. That same promise holds true for us today.

Isaiah 43:2 (NIV) confirms this: "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze."

Notice the word “when.” Not if, but when. Trials are inevitable, we cannot seem to avoid them. But so is God’s presence and protection. And that is a good thing. God is always there. Hallelujah.

We also see in Hebrews 12:11 (ESV) that the process of discipline and refinement is never pleasant in the moment: "For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it."

How many of us can testify?

The scripture says there is a "later" coming. Gloriy to God.

God is forming something eternal through something temporary. He's not just changing our situation—He’s changing us.

Finally, let’s reflect on Job. A man who lost nearly everything, yet made this declaration in Job 23:10 (KJV): "But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold."

Job didn’t deny the pain, but he trusted the outcome. That’s the heart posture we need. Not denial, not false positivity, but deep, rooted trust that the refining process is producing something holy.

So today, as you find yourself in the fire, don’t run from it. Don’t despise it. Lean into God. Let Him purify, mature, and strengthen your faith. Because when the fire has done its work, you will come out shining—more resilient, more rooted, more like Christ. And that is a really good thing!

aub - 6May25

www.zjoyvi.com

https://www.youtube.com/live/ezrzMeVzrIg?si=PNlNlISp32k7lPSl