Standing Inside The Fire

Cassie Standing Inside The Fire
Photo by Uncle "John Arthur Photography"

"And I will put this third into the fire, refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call on my name, and I will answer them. I will say, 'They are my people'; and they will say, 'The Lord is our God.'” Zech 13:9

When she was younger, I called her Sassy Cassie. She can still be a bit sassy. She, as most of us do, has fought the refining process as hard as she could. Although it helps us to grow, the refining process is not all that easy to endure. However, it doesn't do much good to try to avoid it because  when we try to avoid it the fire just seems to get all the more hot.

Refining is not a quick and easy thing. It continues throughout our lives here on earth. We can grow in Him pretty slowly as we reject what we have learned through the process of refining.

Thankfully, He is patient and loves all of his children and continues always to soften our hearts toward Him so that we might live abundant lives in Him. The refining is not easy on the person that is being refined or on anyone around them. But, it is better to withstand the fiery ordeal of refining then to never step inside those refining fires. It is better to withstand the refining process while young so that as we grow old we can live life joyfully saying, "The Lord is my God." He has got me to this day and to who I am.

Life is much more pleasant when we get up and actually experience the awesome life and all the gifts that God has given us. Focus on truly living life in Christ and you will know joy and peace no matter what fires you might find yourself in.

Garth Brooks reminds us in his song:

Standing outside the fire

Standing outside the fire

Life is not tried it is merely survived

If you're standing outside the fire

Do not fear the refining fires. Have faith that God is with you always, working in and through you, even in and  particularly through those fires.

 

God's Peace - Pr. J