REFINED IN THE FURNACE OF TRIALS

The subject of suffering, trials or challenges as we may choose to call it remains controversial among charismatics today. So controversial!

Several extremes abound on this subject. Some believe in perpetual suffering, that's an extreme. Another school of thought believe a believer should not go through life's challenges at all.

In fact, I heard a preacher who asserted that believers should not go through challenges and If they do, it is their fault. Bad theology there!

Should we say everyone going through a challenge in life has defaulted in one way or the other? If yes, someone has to explain clearly what the fault of Abraham was when he experienced delay in childbearing. I need to know what Jesus did that made him suffer like a criminal on the cross.

In fact, If we share this sentiment, then we can conclude that all the apostles of Jesus who suffered and were martyred( except John the beloved) were at fault. Can you see the weakness of that argument?

Recently, I read the interview of a preacher. When they asked him If he has experienced spiritual attack, he said "No". He said it is only insensitive and unprepared pastors that get attacked. He sounded cocky to me about not having experienced such before. That's not true in my opinion about him.

This is someone who once shared his marital challenges in the public. He told us how his wife gave him serious problems that threatened his peace as a minister until God intervened. If that is not a spiritual attack, what is it? To me, what he described was a spiritual attack on his marriage to discredit his ministry yet he didn't know life's challenges could come in that form.

I love real people. I am not so happy when we preachers present ourselves as being above the experiences of humanity. Very anointed men go through challenges as well. It doesn't mean they have sinned or have become weak.

Paul shared his challenges with the Corinthian church. Christ, the anointed one experienced the cross. We just have to be humble before God in matters like this. No one prays for challenges to come yet at one time or the other in life, we face it including those denying it.

That you're going through real stuffs, I mean hard times, difficulties, challenges or suffering as we may choose to call it doesn't mean you defaulted somewhere. While I do believe certain problems are man-made yet I know some are not.

In John 16:33, Christ himself said, "I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth YOU WILL have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world"( NLT)

Living the faith life is not a guarantee of a problem-free life. Rather, it is a guarantee of victory over every of life's challenges. To me, this is a balanced scriptural perspective.

One of the things that trials do to us is that it refines us. We all have rough edges that God need to smoothen. While in the furnace of trials, God want to use that medium to separate the wheat from the chaff in your life and teach you patience.

While in the furnace of trials, God want to build a solid relationship with you in the secret place. While in that same furnace of trials, God want you to know who your real friends are.

If you can approach your challenges in life from the standpoint of seeing the purpose it is intended for, you will come out quickly. We cannot enter into destiny unrefined. The furnace of trial is our school of preparation before we emerge on the scene.

Moses couldn't enter into God's plan for his life not until he was schooled in the university of wilderness. He came out of the wilderness a better leader. I see you coming out of your season of trials very soon in Jesus name.

CONFESSION: I walk in victory over life's challenges In the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen

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