Malachi 3:2-4 (The Message)
But who will be able to stand up to that coming? Who can survive his appearance?
He'll be like white-hot fire from the smelter's furnace. He'll be like the strongest lye soap at the laundry. He'll take his place as a refiner of silver, as a cleanser of dirty clothes. He'll scrub the Levite priests clean, refine them like gold and silver, until they're fit for God, fit to present offerings of righteousness. Then, and only then, will Judah and Jerusalem be fit and pleasing to God, as they used to be in the years long ago.
Ever wonder who you are, really? Are you the same person at church as you are when someone cuts you off in traffic? When you are going through a rough time, do you get closer to God or pull away? The true character of a person comes out when they are going through. Trials and tribulation are for our growth and benefit. God uses them to clean us up. Anything in our character that God can't use comes out when He turns up the heat on us. The wonderful thing about God is that He knows how much heat we can stand. You can control the heat of the fire. If you learn quickly that God is trying to do something in you, you time of refinement will be shorter. If you are slow to get what God is teaching you, your time will be extended.
I have heard many people refer to 2008 as a tumultuous year. Some have even described it as the worst year of their lives. I believe it was a year of refinement. As I grow spiritually, I look back on trials as just that refinement. This ministry was birth through a series of trials. It took me about 6 months to realize that it wasn't the devil but a loving God removing things in my character that needed to go. I have seen people I love go through a rough time this year. One has moved closer to God,praying more, praising more, worshipping more, going to church whenever the door is open. The other has been up and down, going back to old destructive patterns. How has 2008 been for you? Did you move closer to God or pull away? However you reacted is indicative of your character. For some, the season of trial is coming to an end. For others, you have to stay in the fire until what is holding you back is destroyed.
God Bless