Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. (Isaiah 43:1-2, ESV)
Fire, water, and pressure are the tools used to refine metal, temper steel, and create swords. In the process of forging a sword, pressure is usually applied immediately after heating. Pressure works best when the subject is pliable, because that which is brittle will break!
At times, God will walk us through seasons of trial as He uses adverse circumstances to refine our character. When we are most desperate for His deliverance is often when we grow closest to Him, learn the most about His nature and desires for us, and see His majesty revealed. Though hardship is never what our good Father desires for His children, He will make the most of these experiences to make the most of us.
In our weakness, God makes us strong. Before the heat of the fiery furnace has cooled, He effectively molds us, taking advantage of a window of time when we will bend but not break.
As the legacy of the Apostle Paul attests, Jesus loves to take our calloused, hard hearts and make them soft and pure so that He can send us to save others from an eternity in hell. Paul underwent trial and affliction, but because he encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus, his life was radically transformed into a dogged pursuit after God.
I pray that you, lovely one, will have life-changing encounters with Jesus that help you to walk through the fiery furnaces you encounter. I pray that you will know you are His and He will never leave you. He will not let the waters overtake you. He will not let the fire consume you. Instead, may you be consumed with Him.
For more: Read James 1:2-8 NIV and 1 Thessalonians 1:5 MSG. Fashion a prayer of response.
* Girls with Swords: How To Carry Your Cross Like A Hero (WaterBrook Press, 2013)
