Walking through fire

It’s so easy to stay motivated when everything thing is going well around you. Not so much when you’re walking through fire, am I right?

Yesterday I wasn’t feeling okay and I just needed to calm my nerves, so I picked up my bible, got in bed and randomly started reading through the first book of Corinthians. What I was actually trying to do was to shut down the thoughts that were running inside my head. What better thing to put in than God’s word, right?

On reaching chapter 3 I found something in verses 12 – 15. In verse 12 Paul writes how our works will be tested by fire on the day of Christ. Only the works which are done with Christ as the foundation will survive and gain its reward. Verse 15 says that if the works are burned up with the fire, the reward is lost, though the person will be saved, but only as [one who has passed] through fire. In my Amplified Bible at the end of vs 15 is a bracket the redirected me to Job 23:10.

This lifted my spirit. Job 23:10 says “But He knows the way that I take [He has concern for it, appreciates, and pays attention to it]. When He has tried me, I shall come forth as refined gold [pure and luminous].”

Many a times God allows us to walk through fire in order to refine us. We all need work. We have things inside of us that we need to change and issues we need to overcome. I find that when we walk through fire, we walk closer to God because we know that He alone is our sovereign aide. Troubled times bring to us the realization that we’re barely able to stand up if God doesn’t provide us with His love and grace. That we’re never in control of our journey and that all that is within us, our faith, strength, hope, joy and peace, is out of His great providence and not of our own effort. It’s quiet humbling to be honest.

I came to this realization today that walking through fire doesn’t only cleanses us but also cleanses our works, our offerings, our praise and worship.

Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 9 – 10: 9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. This comforts me too in such times.

The false sense of my strength is lost when I realize that all along it was God who sustained me. Even in my joy it was Him who lifted my soul. Nobody is fond of walking through fire but indeed it is necessary.

Along with us, our works are too being purified and made ready for the day of testing.

Although I am walking through the fire but I know He’s walking right beside me. Hebrews 13:5 – “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

I hope to encourage someone today even though I’m fighting to stay encouraged.

What does Job 23:10 speak to you?

~Sharon