The Furnace of Adversity
Scripture — Isaiah 48:10 (NRSV)
See, I have refined you, but not like silver;
I have tested you in the furnace of adversity.
Focus
“The furnace of adversity.” I don’t like the sound of that. It sounds painful and scary. Yet, according to Isaiah 48, God tests and refines us in “the furnace of adversity.” God uses hard times to form us to be the people God intends us to be. Through suffering, we become more like Jesus.
Devotion
When life is easy, we tend to get caught up in trivialities: worrying about our appearance, or passing on the latest gossip, or boasting about our material possessions, or wondering why a colleague has a better assignment at work, or . . . you name it. Often that which matters most gets ignored. We miss family gatherings so we can work a few extra hours. Or when we’re with our loved ones, we spend our time staring at our smartphone screens. We spend less time with the Lord, skipping church or skimping on our devotions.
Suffering has a way of refocusing our minds and hearts. When we’re in pain, be it physical, emotional, or relational, we stop caring about little things that don’t matter. Our hearts yearn for what is truly important: the love of family and friends, the assurance that life has meaning, justice for all people, and the transformational healing and peace of God.
Thus, God uses pain to refine us, burning away the dross of our lives. When we’re in the “furnace of adversity,” we often wonder where God is and why God is letting us hurt. We wonder if we will survive. Isaiah 48:10 reassures us that God is testing us but not destroying us. The Lord is not using a refining process like the one that purifies silver. The heat of such a process would burn us to a crisp. No, God’s refining is not easy, but it’s not destructive. In fact, it’s ultimately redemptive.
In the midst of suffering, however, it’s often hard to discern God’s presence. Yet when we look back on the hard times of our lives, we can often see how God used them for our good. This doesn’t mean we look forward to suffering, but it does mean that we can find in our pain the peace that comes from a deeper experience of God. Moreover, we can have confidence that God will use the difficulties of life to shape us to be more and more the people God has created us to be. Suffering helps us become more like Jesus.
I am reminded of a friend of mine who has achieved an impressive amount of worldly success. One might expect that such a person would be puffed up with pride, the sort of person who sucks all the air out of the room. But this is not the case with my friend. I believe a significant part of what enables him to be humble and truly human is the fact that he has endured more than a normal share of suffering in life. He lives with a regular reminder of just how much he depends on God. Moreover, his experience of pain has tenderized his heart, giving him special empathy for others who hurt. The furnace of adversity has not been easy for my friend, not at all. But God has used this both for his good and for the good of those he leads.
Reflect
Have you known what it’s like to be in the furnace of adversity?
How has pain helped you to grow in your relationship with God?
What helps you to sense God’s presence when you’re hurting?
Act
If you’re going through a furnace of adversity time in your life, be sure to find others with whom to share your challenges. God’s grace often comes to us in such times through the care of our sisters and brothers in Christ.
Pray
Gracious God, I must admit that I don’t like this notion of the furnace of adversity. Being refined by you sounds just fine. But when I think of the process of refining, especially the pain involved, I’m much less enthusiastic. How I wish there were an easier way for me to grow to be the person you envision me to be!
Nevertheless, Lord, when I look back at my life, I can see how you have been at work in me during difficult times. I think of that wonderful verse written by John Rippon in “How Firm a Foundation”:
When through fiery trials thy pathways shall lie,
My grace, all-sufficient, shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.
Thank you, gracious God, for using the difficult times of my life for your advantage . . . and for mine. Thank you for making me more like you, in good times, yes, and especially through hard times. Amen.
Find all Life for Leaders devotions here. Explore what the Bible has to say about work at the High Calling archive, hosted by the unique website of our partners, the Theology of Work Project. Reflection on today’s Life for Leaders theme can be found here: If I’m Suffering, Is God Punishing Me?
Mark D. Roberts
Senior Strategist
Dr. Mark D. Roberts is a Senior Strategist for Fuller’s Max De Pree Center for Leadership, where he focuses on the spiritual development and thriving of leaders. He is the principal writer of the daily devotional, Life for Leaders,...
Comments (1)
I’m in the firey furnace right now, 2 adult autistic son I’ve raised since birth. Their father left when they were 3 and 5 the Grace is shifting on me, they are now 25 and 27 yrs old and I’m making the first steps to out of home placement. The ongoing labor and care needs are too much. I’m 63 yrs old now, although God has been with me every step of this journey, the brook is drying up, God’ Grace is lifting off me to continue this task. My health and mental wellbeing is drained.
Please pray for a miracle as God promises not to forsake me. My son’s need a community based housing door to open up, out of home placement is my prayer, will you join me in agreement?
God bless you