“Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction” (Isaiah 48:10).
The “fire of trial” is not something strange or reserved only for a select few of God’s servants. On the contrary, it is part of the path of all who have been chosen. The very voice of the Lord declares that His own are tested in the furnace of affliction. This means that every soul called by God will experience, to a greater or lesser degree, moments in which they are purified through suffering—not by chance, but by divine design.
This is why the splendid Law of the Lord is so necessary in the life of the faithful. The majestic commandments given to the prophets of the Old Testament and to Jesus prepare us to recognize that suffering is part of the process. Constant obedience strengthens us to stand firm when the heat of the furnace increases. Those who live under the direction of God’s Law are not surprised by the trial, but understand it as a seal of belonging and a means of refinement.
If you are passing through the fire, do not be discouraged. The Father blesses and sends the obedient to the Son for forgiveness and salvation. Let the extraordinary commandments of the Lord be the foundation that sustains you in the midst of pain. Obedience brings us blessings, deliverance, and salvation—and tests us like gold refined in the fire. -Adapted from J.C. Philpot. Until tomorrow, if the Lord allows us.
Pray with me: Purifying Lord, when the fire of affliction surrounds me, help me remember that You Yourself have chosen me to be Yours. May I not reject the furnace, but glorify You in it.
Teach me to obey Your magnificent Law even in the hardest times. May Your commandments give me strength to remain steadfast as I am shaped by Your hand.
Oh beloved Lord, I thank You because You test me not to destroy me, but to perfect me. Your beloved Son is my eternal Prince and Savior. Your mighty Law is like the fire that purifies without consuming. Your commandments are like heavenly tools that shape me according to Your will. I pray in the precious name of Jesus, amen.
