Living in the Fire

You never know how God is going to use your story later.

Have you ever heard the phrase, “be careful what you ask for”? That goes double for God. You may be asking God for something, expecting one thing, and God will answer you with something totally different. I used to pray that God would use me in a big way. I had a ton of notions about what that could be – speaking to large groups, leading a Bible study, a blog that went viral (wink) …I had a heart for God and, typical for me, I was ready to abandon fear and sprint into my calling.

You know what you DON’T consider when you ask God for something like that? The amount of refining that has to take place in you to make you a useful tool. When people would tell my great-grandmother “God will never give you more than you can handle” – she would respond with “I wish God didn’t think so highly of me.” While a pretty sentiment, I have to admit that I totally disagree. Some of us, present company included, require more than we can handle before we’re ready to stop handling and start depending on God. (And most of the women I know just said “amen.” Birds of a feather and all…)

The Bible uses references to refining metal quite often, and it really is the best metaphor. Silver and gold have to be melted in fire to remove the impurities and increase the quality. Just like with metal, God is busy refining our hearts – and we stay in the heat until he has removed all impurities.

I’ve been studying the book of Jeremiah.  Jeremiah was a prophet to Judah just before the Babylonians took everyone into exile for 70 years, and he was crying out to a nation that had turned its back on God. They were worshipping idols, sacrificing to false gods, seeking the help of enemy nations for protection – turning everywhere except to the One that had promised their safety and prosperity. Judah was disintegrating morally and being destroyed physically; and to add to it, a century before Israel had experienced a similar judgment. Jeremiah wasn’t the only prophet God sent to warn them – it is estimated they had at least 40 years of prophetic warnings before God decided his judgment against them would be final.

In Chapter 6, God explains that he has made Jeremiah “a tester of metals and my people the ore, that you may observe and test their ways.” (v.27) A few verses down, he says “the bellows blow fiercely to burn away the lead with fire, but the refining goes on in vain; the wicked are not purged out.”(v.29) Over and over in the Bible, the metaphor of refining metals is used to describe God’s work in us…but not everyone will choose to be refined.  

so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; - 1 Peter 1:7

For You have tried us, O God; You have refined us as silver is refined. You brought us into the net; You laid an oppressive burden upon our loins. You made men ride over our heads; We went through fire and through water, yet You brought us out into a place of abundance. – Psalm 66:10-12

See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. – Isaiah 48:1

Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand. – Daniel 12:10

Does it feel like you’ve been in the fire longer than you can stand? God doesn’t want you to suffer needlessly; it’s exactly the opposite.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. – Romans 8:28

It’s time to start looking inward. There is something inside of you that God is trying to change, there is a lesson you haven’t quite grasped yet, or there is a character trait you will need for the next season of your walk. If you don’t go looking for it you will stay right where you are, stuck in the fire. I have a dear friend who once told me she looks at herself every time something bad happens. In the struggle or suffering, she looks for the lesson first. It’s created a resiliency in her that is admirable, and a growth in her walk with Christ unmatched to most people I know. It also keeps her from focusing on the problem, and sends her directly to God.

On the other side of that fire is a powerful testimony, a steadfast faith, and personal relationship with the God of all creation…and that is the mightiest weapon that God can give you. Oh, he will use you in a big way – but you will walk through the fire first. The real question is, are you tough enough to handle the heat? I think you are…perhaps you were born for such a time as this. (Esther 4:14)