Make Your Trials Count!

Remember the story of Daniel’s three friends? King Nebuchadnezzar set up a giant golden image in Babylon and mandated that at the sound of every kind of music, all his subjects were required to bow down and worship it. However, certain anti-semetic Chaldeans complained to Nebuchadnezzar that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego did not bow down and worship the image.

When confronted, listen to their amazing response to the king - “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” (Daniel 3:16-18)

Ouch! What a slap in the face that would have been to Nebuchadnezzar. This caused the king to enter into a fit of rage. He ordered them to be thrown into the furnace that was heated seven times more than it usually was. Because of the intensity of the heat, it killed the men that brought the three friends into the furnace. Yet, we know what happened to these three friends - they survived the flames and were even accompanied by a fourth person inside the fire whose form was like the Son of God. These guys held on to their beliefs despite not knowing if their God would rescue them.

In today’s passage, we read the final words of Christ. Jesus explicitly states that in this world, we will have trouble. It may not be as intense as what Daniel’s three friends went through, but the trials that we go through as disciples of Christ are fierce in a different way.

In Scripture, furnaces are used as a metaphor for the refinement or purification of the vessel being set apart for God’s purposes (Proverbs 17:3). If you are a devoted disciple of Christ, you need to expect trials and tribulation.

The purpose of gold being placed in fire is so that the impurities would rise to the surface and subsequently be removed. Similarly, God allows trials and tribulations in our lives so that any impurities within us (anything that is contrary to Christlikeness) can be identified and removed from us if we submit ourselves to the refining work of God in our lives.

Like many of us, I dislike trials and tribulations. However, I also know that they are necessary for the Christian walk. There can be no purification or refinement if there isn’t fire. Anger, pride, and resentment easily rises to the surface of my countenance and actions when I go through a trial.

The question then is this - will I allow the Holy Spirit to refine me through humility? Or do I stay in the wilderness of my pride and continue to hide these impurities? When I choose to cooperate with the work of the Holy Spirit, that is when I start to mature and become more Christlike.

Trials and refinement are necessary so that the Holy Spirit is able to refine us to love God in a way that pleases Him, and to love others the way Christ loved us. It is necessary for Christlikeness.

Beloved, do not turn away from trials in your life. Don’t give an inch of authority to your flesh to rule over you during these moments. Rather, ask the Lord - “What are you surfacing for me to see?” Then, cooperate with the Holy Spirit’s refining work in your life so that He can help mature you into the likeness of Christ.

Like Daniel’s 3 friends, let us not pray away our trials. Rather, let us ask the Lord to use these trials to make us more Christlike so that He can be glorified through us!

Reflection

• Was the life of Christ without trials and suffering? How did Jesus glorify God through His trials and suffering?
• What needs to change in regard to your posture and attitude towards trials?

Application

Do not be afraid of trials or avoid them. Rather, use these trials to create space for the Holy Spirit to do His refining work in your life.