TRIALS THAT PURIFY OUR FAITH

Hebrews 11:32-40

And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of  Gideon,  Barak,  Samson,  Jephthah, of  David and  Samuel and the prophets who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises,   stopped the mouths of lions,  quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness,  became mighty in war,   put foreign armies to flight. 

 Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even  chains and imprisonment.  They were stoned, they were sawn in two,  they were killed with the sword.   They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— of whom the world was not worthy—  wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And all these,  though commended through their faith,   did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us,  that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

This may seem a little scary, to think of our faith tested so harshly. But what may seem hard to us may not be hard for another, yet what seems hard to another may not seem so hard to us.  Yet, God's word says: 

1 Corinthians 10:12-14

New King James Version (NKJV)

Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.   No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

Luke 3:16

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁶ John answered, saying to all, “I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Although these scriptures tell of trials that will come and our Faithful God who sees us through it all, none of us want to go through such horrific situations, but adversity is God's way of purifying our faith.

We are His creation, He knows what is inside us, so He takes us through situations that will mold and make us into His image and that of His Son, for that is His goal, to perfect us.
His tools lay bare  the roots of sin and selfishness. Will are then made new, shinning and burning in the eyes of all those who behold us.

When anything or anyone becomes more important to us than the Lord,, we have an idol in our lives.  To protect us, God sometimes uses adversity to strip away everything we have relied upon so that we will cling only to Him.

The chisel hurts-- it sometimes feels as if God is taking away everything we hold dear.  Unless you understand His goal and believe He is working for your good, you will think He is cruel.  But if you trust Him and yield to His shaping tool of adversity, your faith will be purified and strengthened through affliction.

What do you feel your trail is at this time? Do you need to just let go and let Him take you through it? 
 Stop, step back and look at your situation from a different angle.  Are you making more of it than there really is.  Are you trusting Him fully?  Has He not taken you where you need to go before?
 Trust Him and let go.  He knows your needs before you do.
(con't tomorrow)