The forge of faith
Clinging to your faith during the toughest times of your life produces authenticity, and you can’t get that result unless your faith is challenged.
So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. (1 Peter 1:6-7)
Have you ever watched a blacksmith work? Or a glass blower? There’s a locally owned glass artist shop near my home, and they offer an opportunity to make your own blown-glass Christmas ornaments. It’s really cool!
Glass-blowing isn’t the same as metal-forging, though, but they do share several similarities. Glass is just far more breakable than metal. But both materials have to be heated to absurd temperatures in order to become bendable. Otherwise the artist/smith can’t do anything with them. He might try to shape them, and they’d break apart.
Sometimes God allows His children to go through periods of testing and trial, and it honestly does feel like He is shoving us into a raging furnace at times. Maybe it’s a health complication. Maybe it’s a family situation. Maybe it’s financial trouble. Whatever circumstance you’re facing right now, it probably doesn’t seem fair, and it certainly doesn’t feel kind.
But let’s back up a few steps and ask a very important question: If you know that someone in your life is going to face a difficult task, and no one is willing to help them prepare for it, would you want to help them? Maybe it’s a friend who is going to take a math test; would you help them study? Maybe it’s a family member that has to take a driving test; would you help them practice?
Why do we practice? Why do we study? It’s to get ready for what’s coming.
Have you ever considered that maybe that struggle currently in your life is an opportunity to practice? That’s it’s a chance to allow your life and your perspective and your expectations to become pliable so that they can bend in line with God’s way of thinking?
No, it’s not fun to be thrust into the fire. It hurts. It’s uncomfortable. But on the other side of it, you are empowered to become more like Jesus. Clinging to your faith during the toughest times of your life produces authenticity, and you can’t get that result unless your faith is challenged.
God has big plans for all of His children. No doubt about it. But He is kind enough to help us prepare before those big challenges come our way. If we aren’t able to get ready, we will break apart at the first moment of opposition.
It’s natural to feel discouragement when you face troubling times. Accept the grace Jesus offers. But don’t give up. Cling tighter to Jesus’ promises and let Him strengthen you through His Word and by the love of His people.
On the other side of this trial, you’ll be more like Him, and you’ll be ready to face bigger, scarier things.
Questions for Reflection
Why do you think people tend to see struggles and challenges as God being unfair or unkind?
When was a time you went through a struggle you thought would break you?
How did God use that struggle to make you stronger or prepare you for something in your future you didn’t expect?
Weekly Memory Verse