Fire
God is said to be a consuming fire (Hebrews
12:29). In fact, the very first encounter that Moses had with God was with the
burning bush (Exodus 3:1-2), so fire relates to God’s judgment but also a
perpetual fire that never goes out, which no one can approach and live. Those
who refine gold pass it through the fire to remove the impurities (dross) and
make it more valuable. So it is with our faith. God allows us to pass through
trials and troubles “so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more
precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to
result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1
Peter 1:7). This allows us to see how strong (or weak) or faith is in God. In
other words, how much will we trust Him? Will we still praise Him in the storm?
Pressure
Fine emeralds, sapphires, and diamonds are formed under tremendous amounts of
heat and pressure. Just like a grain of sand enters an oyster and irritates it
into producing a fine pearl, every Christian can look at trials and troubles as
God using pressure, heat, and irritants to keep up humble as well as make
us more valuable to His kingdom by what we do. When we’ve suffered, we can
comfort others after receiving the same kind of comfort God gave us. Our
sufferings can help others.
Pain
C.S. Lewis once said, “God whispers to us in our pleasure, but He
shouts to us in our pain.” So God can use pain to humble us
to come before Him in brokenness and in prayer. If we start to wander from
God, He may use pain to draw us back to Him. God can do whatever He wills to
do, which is good because He always brings about our very best in all things
(Romans 8:28).
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