We often wonder why bad things happen to good people. And perhaps more often than not these will remain questions without answers. But it’s clear God also views our faith as more precious than gold and will allow us to experience certain pressures and difficulties as a way to refine our faith.
Christ himself learned obedience through the things he suffered. And this reminds us that our suffering is not always a consequence of our sins. But, like Jesus, we must endure certain hardships for a greater glory to be revealed.
For instance, we might wonder why it takes so long for our career to get off the ground, why we must face so many relational challenges, or why our body seems plagued with so many illnesses. And we stay frustrated when we just try to eliminate these difficulties or merely seek simplistic answers.
Of course, we should consider the ways in which we might be contributing to our problems. We have no one to blame but ourselves when our own laziness, immaturity, or poor lifestyle choices bring about their natural consequences.
But being good stewards of what God has given us doesn’t eliminate all suffering. And maybe better than seeking an explanation for why we’re suffering is to consider how God might be using it.
His desire is to conform us into the image of Christ and the pressures of this life are often used as his refining fire. Precious metals like gold are made even more valuable when refined and impurities removed. And this is the work God is up to in our lives. He wants to make our faith even more valuable, and so puts us under the necessary pressure to bring out our best. And we shortchange our potential when we resist.
In the end, your faith is more precious than gold. And the pressures you face in life are your refining fires to continue bringing out your best for God’s glory.
Photo by Enlightening Images on Unsplash
