Refinery

Isaiah 48:10 states,

Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried [1] you in the furnace of affliction.

I ran into a friend today, and he was telling me of some incredible ministry experiences he had while living in Wake Forest. One thing that struck him though, as he emphasized to me numerous times, was the fact that many, if not the majority of ministers he had encountered, had gone through major trials in their lives. He said I had a tough job, and he didn't want to be in my shoes (or any pastor's for that matter!) I wasn't surprised by this, for I hear this quite often from people. And, looking back on my life, he's right. But I believe that every believer is refined by God, to be purified, to be made holy. Sanctification is an ongoing process. You can't NOT be a believer and be free of trials. God is in the purification business.

Although he didin't say it, my friend was going through a tremendous trial of his own. He spoke of his faith and trust in God to see him through. After today's encounter, I came away with a sense that God has a desire for me, and that desire is for me to passionately pursue Him in a relationship, through the trials, through the pain, because we all go through the refining process if we are truly born again.