Trials, the Crucible Where God Shapes Your Character

1 Peter 1:6-7

“6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ….”

 

The refinishing of an antique furniture is a remarkable process. Strong chemicals strip away the old varnish. Then sandpaper machines sand it down, exposing all the crooks, corners, and crevices that need repair. The sanding continues until the surface is even. Then it is varnished over and over until it has a smooth, refinished surface. It is varnished until it gets back the glory of its originally intended look.

 

God will strip us down. He will sand and sand. He sands until he exposes every scratch, every corner and every cranny. This is the part that hurts the worst. This is the part where most of us believers, will cry out to the Lord in pain. This is the part where we must trust that His grace is sufficient. God follows the sanding process with the varnish. This is the point at which the life of Christ shines through in the life of the Christian. Our identity in Christ begins to reveal itself, we will find power we never had before after we have been broken. Christian! Take comfort when you go through trials because He’s not finished with you yet!

 

Stephen Thomas

 

Stephen is an ordained Christian Minister and a Bible teacher who is a mentor to several youth leaders in Crossway Church and around the globe. He is a regular visiting Speaker in Crossway Church, New Delhi. He can be reached at stephenthomas6400@hotmail.com