"The Heat Is On!"
- Rita Larson
- Jul 3, 2023
- 4 min read
As the scorching sun beats down upon us today and we are under a heat advisory, it serves as a reminder of the heat we feel when the pressures of life overwhelm us. What you may not realize is that these very pressures can lead to spiritual growth! Isaiah 54:16 states “Behold, I created the blacksmith who blows the coals in the fire, who brings forth an instrument for His work.” Just like a blacksmith forges a sword through intense heat, God uses the heat and pressures of life to shape us into instruments for His work. There is opportunity for spiritual growth amidst life's challenges when we discover how we can embrace the heat to become stronger in our faith.
In our modern society, the art of blacksmithing may seem very old school to us. However, the ancient methods of forging weapons were well-known in biblical times. In grade school on a field trip, I once visited a blacksmith shop and experienced firsthand the intense heat and the sound of bellows adding oxygen to fuel the fire that was required to create useful instruments. It made me realize that sometimes the methods God uses may appear unusual to us, but they serve a greater purpose.
Isaiah 54:16 reminds us that God is the creator of the blacksmith who blows the coals in the fire in order to bring forth instruments for His work. The heat in our lives may come from various sources, such as external circumstances, strained relationships, or the consequences of our own sin. While these are things we attribute to the enemy, they can actually be used by God as part of God's refining process for our spiritual growth. Just as a sword cannot be forged without heat, we cannot become all that God wants us to be without facing the heat and pressure of life. This is where we learn how to turn to our Heavenly Father for and trust Him to work on our behalf!
One of the signs of spiritual growth is purification. When the heat causes us to repent, turn our lives around, and have a testimony of God's deliverance, we begin to understand the purpose behind the scenarios that heat up the coals in our lives. It is through the refining fire that God purifies us, making us stronger and more resilient. Like a sword that becomes sharper and more effective after being forged, our faith grows as we go through the difficult moments of life. "And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God." - Zechariah 13:9
The greatest testimony to God's power is not found in a life free from problems and challenges. It is found in someone who has been through the fire and is still standing, even stronger than before. Nobody desires to experience broken relationships, family dysfunctions, financial issues, personal addictions, etc. but God can use all these experiences to shape us into instruments for His work. Our ability to endure and overcome the heat and pressures of life becomes a powerful testimony of God's faithfulness and strength.
I know from personal experience that God uses strained and broken relationships as opportunities for spiritual growth. These challenges test our patience and provide opportunities for us to develop and begin to walk in and produce the fruit of the Spirit. It is through the heat of difficult relationships that we learn to love, forgive, and extend grace to others. Just as a sword needs to be strong and durable, we must cultivate qualities such as patience, kindness, and gentleness to be effective instruments in God's hands. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." - Galatians 5:22-23
When we find ourselves in the midst of the heat and pressure of life, it is important to remember that God is with us, just as He was with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and Daniel in the Lions Den. Instead of resisting or complaining about the heat or our circumstances, we should embrace the process of spiritual growth. It is through the heat that our faith is refined, our character is strengthened, and we become instruments for God's work. By recognizing God's presence in the midst of our fiery furnace, we can find peace and assurance, knowing that He is with us and spiritual growth becomes inevitable. "But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold." - Job 23:10
In the midst of life's pressures and challenges, let us not shy away from the heat, but recognize the opportunity that it brings. Instead, let us embrace the refining process and allow God to shape us into instruments for His work. Just as a blacksmith forges a sword through intense heat, God uses the heat and pressures of life to purify us, strengthen us, and grow us spiritually. Stand strong in the fire, bearing testimony to God's power and faithfulness! As we navigate the heat, let us remember that spiritual growth is inevitable for those who have faith and surrender to the transformative work of The Master Blacksmith. "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." - Philippians 1:6
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