From a heart that has shed many tears, I can tell you that going through "the fire" isn't easy. There are times in life when God draws us into an uncomfortable place...whether for a moment or a season.
Imagine a fiery wall built up all around you. Your vision is blurred, your senses play tricks on you and nothing makes sense. It seems as if no one is around and you are left to fend for yourself. Abandonment. Your heart is affected most severely...it breaks and wants nothing more than to escape. You long to find some kind of relief - even if it's temporary. All the while, you have voices surrounding you on every side - "give up," or "move on"...some say, "hang in there" and "keep fighting."
There is a saying that is said in may different ways, but the essence of it is - "Anything worth having is worth fighting for." After listening to many different voices and opinions of how to get yourself out of the fire, this phrase seems empowering. It seemingly offers hope and strength when all that you've previously known seems to have disintegrated into ashes.
But I want to pose this as somewhat of a counter-question...When we're in the uncomfortable place of refinement - where God strips us of ungodly things and makes us more like Him...What are we fighting for? To take it a step further...who are we fighting?
Are we fighting back the tears that don't seem to end? The tears that flood from your heart when your eyes dry up. Are we fighting to be strong for the voices surrounding us and the eyes recording our every move? Or...are we fighting against God for what we feel has been taken away from us?
I would argue that, more often than not...we pick the wrong battles. I'm learning that the fight is against ourselves.
We must fight the desire to hold onto what God is trying to free us from. Fight the inclination to entertain any voice other an God's. Most importantly, we must fight -daily- to nurture our connection with God. He is our Source of life...He promised to "guide [us] along the best path for [our] life. [He] will advise [us] and watch over [us]." (
Psalm 32:8)
If the best path for my life is through testing and trials to make me more like (and closer to) Him...I surrender, knowing full well that it won't be easy and it'll be the furthest thing from comfortable...But so was the cross.
Lord, make us better. Send Your refining fire.