To get gold to its purest state you have to melt it over immense heat. All the nonsense then comes to the top and can be scraped off. What stays behind is 24 carat gold. This is the same thing that happens to us as Christians. We are refined by fire. All of life’s trials, tribulations and circumstances is that fire. As we go through the fire, all the nonsense comes to the top. It is in the midst of trials and tribulations that we can see where we truly stand in our relationship with Christ. In each situation we have 2 choices. Will I be obedient to God’s word or will I be disobedient? See, a trial is not a temptation, no, it is a test from God, to prove your character and to show you what your character is. It is only when we decide not to obey God’s word in that situation, that the trial turned into a temptation. To not obey is a sin, so the trial was there before you, you thought about it and chose the “easy” way out. Satan tempts us. The moment you start wondering about doing the thing which you know is not right, the trial turned into a temptation and you now have to resist the devil in that temptation. But trials in themselves are good for us, we should welcome them and not try to pray them away. Jas 1:2-4 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. see also 1Pe 1:6-7 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, If we allow the trials to do what they need to do to us, if we respond in a godly way to them, we will be made perfect and not lacking anything. That is why we should count it all joy. I do not care how hard or tuff the trial seems, we should know that our God is in control of everything and therefore we do not have to worry about a thing. Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. See, ALL things work together for good for those who love Christ, we must just get this truth through our skulls and believe it. Is there proof, of course there is. Let me show you – We know the story about Joseph. His brothers wanted to kill him and in the end just sold him to slave traders. this was an evil thing to do, especially towards your own flesh and blood. Do you for one moment think that God was not ruling the situation, that God was not in complete control. God was in complete control because this was His plan. What men were doing was evil, but according to God’s plan it all worked out for good. God wanted to save a whole nation from starvation. Look at what Joseph says to his brothers when he was finally reunited with them. Gen 50:20 But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. So, when the next trial comes your way, smile, ask what God’s word wants you to do and do it. Be obedient. Consider trials as blessings, not as something bad happening to you, it is something good happening to you. And believe me, trials will come. If you are not experiencing difficulties as a Christian, chances are that you are not really a Christian. Php 1:29 For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,
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